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Dinner at Zoroastrian Club | 20 April 2017 April 21, 2017 On 20th April, RCS, Hong Kong Branch, organized a dinner at the Zoroastrian Club in Causeway Bay. Hosted by Council member, Mr Neville Shroff, who is President of the Hong Kong Zoroastrian Society and Charity Trust, the evening consisted of a talk on the history of the Parsee community in Hong Kong, who had originally migrated from Persia to India (and were the founders of HK University, the Kowloon Cricket Club and Ruttonjee Hospital, among other institutions) and a talk by the priest (or Dastoorjie) in the Fire Temple on the Zoroastrian religion, one of the oldest in the world. This was followed by a delicious Parsee banquet with many dishes cooked in the old Persian style with delicate herbs and spices.

Mrs Joan Campbell MBE June 13, 2016 We are delighted to announce that our past Chairman, Mrs Joan Campbell, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her services to dance in Hong Kong.  

Celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday | 21 Apr April 22, 2016 Celebrated in style in Hong Kong with 74 guests and Consuls-General, including a crown cake and champagne toast. SPEECH OF MR. PETER MANN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RCS, HONG KONG BRANCH Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today is the 90th birthday of her Majesty, the Queen. She is not only the longest-reigning monarch in British history but also the Head of the Commonwealth. Moreover, she is the Queen of Australia, Canada and New Zealand and 13 other countries. She is a much loved and respected figure around the world and is well known for her capacity for hard work and her sense of duty. On her 21st birthday, she announced to the public: ‘My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.’ And it certainly has been.  Apart from making 114 state visits over the last 63 years, receiving innumerable heads of state, opening hospitals and schools, she has connections with over 600 charities, professional bodies and public service organisations. The Queen has always taken a great interest in the Commonwealth and shared its core values of peace, democracy and equality. On Commonwealth Day this year she gave a speech which emphasized an ‘inclusive’ Commonwealth.  What will the Queen do today? She will go for a walkabout in Windsor on a new trail called the Queen’s Walkway, which links 63 points of interest (one for each year of her reign) and there is a plan to have 100 similar walkways throughout the Commonwealth by 2018. She has also started an initiative called the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, a network of forest conservation areas, including Epping Forest and commitments from Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Belize, Sri Lanka and Zambia. In the evening, she will light a beacon which will set in train a series of 900 beacons across the country and worldwide.  I’m sure you would all like to wish the Queen a Happy 90th Birthday and Many Happy Returns (glasses/toast) Her Majesty the Queen!

Year of the Monkey Charitable Dinner March 7, 2016 On 5 March 2016, RCS and Por Yen Charitable Foundation held a joint event t the China Club to raise money for 15 scholarships in Business Administration at the Institute for Vocational Education (IVE), part of the VTC Group. RCS Council members will attend the interviews to ensure that the scholarships go to deserving students. The 36 guests were treated to a delicious Chinese banquet and enjoyed Chinese music and dance. Thanks go to our patron, Dr Aron Harlilela, the Por Yen Foundation and other guests for their generous donations.  

Reception & Dinner Hosted by Patron Dr. Aron Harilela | 17th Nov November 25, 2015 RCS Fellows had  a wonderful evening full of warmth and hospitality at the Harilela Mansion by gracious invitation by RCS Patron  Dr. Aron Harilela and his wife Mrs. Laura Harilela on 17th November. Mr. Peter Mann, RCS Chairman, thanked Dr. Aron and the Harilela family for their kind invitation.  He spoke of the great support that Dr. Aron’s father, Dr. Hari Harilela, had given over many years and the loss to both RCS and the community at his passing in late 2014; and what a great honour it was that Dr. Aron has agreed to support RCS as Patron.  Also noted was the number of Young Fellows in attendance. Dr. Aron spoke of his commitment to RCS and that he intended to take an active role, particularly inviting RCS Fellows to his home on an annual basis and his support with ongoing RCS initiatives. Peter Mann presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Laura Harilela. After an extremely convivial cocktail reception, guests made their way to the dining room and terrace for an al fresco buffet dinner and lively conversation in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Sincere thanks go to the Harilela family for their hospitality, their warmth and wonderful arrangements, particularly to Dr. Aron and Laila Harilela who made everyone feel so welcome.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition – Results 2015 November 9, 2015 The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2015, based on the theme of ‘A Young Commonwealth’, met with a record response. The Royal Commonwealth Society received more than 13,000 entries from over 600 schools in 49 Commonwealth countries and territories. Both the Senior and the Junior judging panels were impressed by the quality of the entries. This year the top Winners and Runners-up come from Cyprus, Tristan da Cunha, Botswana and the Cayman Islands;additionally the judges selected one additional Senior entrant and two additional Junior entrants to receive special commendations. In total over 3,000 participants won an award, Gold, Silver or Bronze. In recognition of their achievement, the Winners and Runners-Up were flown to London for October’s ‘Winners’ Week’, five days of cultural and educational activities, culminating in a special award event at Buckingham Palace. Watch the video below. On 5th December the Hong Kong Award winners will be presented with their certificates at a ceremony at the Helena May by Dr. Verner Bickley.  The Award winners are : Senior Silver Award: Alvin Yu of St. Joesph’s College Senior Bronze Award: Belinda Ng of South Island School Sherman Lam of St. Joseph’s College Wallace Fan (school unknown) Junior Gold Award: Cameron Setiadi of the Singapore International School Junior Silver Award: Germaine Kimberly Lau of the Chinese International School Sabrina Hwang of the Singapore International School Junior Bronze Award: Yu Ting Lai of Dunman High School Ethan Lau of the Singapore International School Dorothy Poon of St. Mary’s Canossian College Congratulations to all Hong Kong Award winners and to all that entered. If you would like to attend the Award Ceremony at 10am at the Helena May on 5th December please contact secretary@rcshk.com.

A Wonderful Celebration of HM The Queen’s Longest Reign September 16, 2015 On September 9th Her Majesty The Queen became the longest reigning British monarch in history, she surpassed the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who ruled for nearly 64 years.  RCS Hong Kong celebrated this great occasion with a reception at the Helena May and were joined by British Consul General Caroline Wilson and Canadian Consul General Ian Burchett, together with many Fellows and Friends. The Photo Album of the evening can be accessed by clicking here Also see the slideshow that was screened at the reception with over 200 images of HM The Queen throughout her life is available via YouTube.   http://youtube.com/watch?v=43_67VjBFbo&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fstaging.rcshk.com%2F If you not yet a Fellow of RCS now is the time to join with a special rate from October 1st 2015 – December 31st 2016 : Fellows $500 / Young Fellows $250 (under 35).  Click here to sign up now! Buckingham Palace has calculated that Queen Victoria reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes, taking into account 63 years, 15 leap days, additional months and days and the precise timings of her accession and death. By those calculations, Queen Elizabeth II will overtake Victoria on September 9th, 2015, taking into account 63 years plus 16 leap days, additional months and days and the exact time of George VI’s death. “It’s a very significant milestone. The Queen will become the longest reigning British monarch in history. She came to the throne when she was older than Victoria. Victoria was only 18,” said historian, Dr Kate Williams. “It shows that our female monarchs last the longest. The Queen’s longevity is a great source of her strength and popularity. She has lived through World War Two and throughout the 20th century.” Queen Victoria ascended the throne upon the death of her uncle, William IV, on June 20, 1837, less than a month after her 18th birthday. Her husband, Prince Albert, died when he was just 42, and Victoria remained in mourning for the rest of her life. She died on January 22, 1901, aged 81, and was succeeded by her eldest son, who ruled as King Edward VII. Her Majesty, on the other hand, became Queen Elizabeth II on February 6, 1952, when her father King George VI died. The Queen, who was only 25 at the time, received information of her father’s passing and her accession whilst in Kenya on a royal tour. The news was broken to her by her husband, Prince Philip, who continues to support Her Majesty even today. He holds the record for the longest serving British consort. One would think that an event as significant as making history for being the longest reigning monarch would be a cause for celebration, but according to a Buckingham Palace spokesman, this milestone will be just another day for Her Majesty. “The Queen traditionally spends the month of September at Balmoral,” he said. “Next year is unlikely to be any different.” Her Majesty already holds a number of records. At 88, she is the longest living British monarch, having overtaken Queen Victoria in 2007, and in 2011, she overtook King George III to become the second-longest reigning monarch. The Queen is also the second longest-serving head of state alive today, after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who came to the throne in 1946.

In Memoriam: Dr the Hon. Hari N. Harilela June 10, 2026 Royal Commonwealth Society, Hong Kong Branch records with deepest sorrow the passing of Dr the Hon. Hari N. Harilela, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, Patron of Royal Commonwealth Society, HK Branch on 29 December 2014. He was 92 years old. Dr Harilela was a distinguished Indian entrepreneur based in Hong Kong. He was Hon. Chairman of the Harilela Group and Harilela Hotels Ltd. Founded with his three brothers in 1959, the Harlilela Group has developed into a global conglomerate with businesses in a wide range of sectors, from hospitality and real estate investment to import and export trading. As our Patron, Dr Halilela was a strong supporter of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Hong Kong Branch, and will be remembered for the annual dinners he hosted at his Kowloon Tong residence and for his support of the educational and charitable work of RCS. Dr Harilela had an impressive record of public service in the fields of education, health, trade and commerce, music and arts and social welfare for the Indian and local communities. Founder of the Harilela Foundation, he participated enthusiastically in the work of many charitable bodies. He also spared no effort in fostering friendly ties between India and Hong Kong and in raising the profile of the Indian community in Hong Kong.