The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) in Hong Kong
Celebrating Commonwealth Culture
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) in Hong Kong
Celebrating Commonwealth Culture
In 1949, the 4th Annual Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference was hosted at Buckingham Palace by King George VI and chaired by the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee. Attended by the prime ministers of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom, the leaders agreed on what is now known as the London Declaration, transforming their historical links into the modern Commonwealth of Nations.
Today, the Commonwealth is a network of 56 independent nations across five continents. It now includes several countries with no legacy ties to Britain which have recently joined the Commonwealth to share in the value of being part of this community. Membership of the Commonwealth is defined by the principles espoused by the Commonwealth Charter, encompassing the shared values of democracy, good governance, rule of law, international peace and security, tolerance and diversity. The Commonwealth Charter was promulgated by HM Queen Elizabeth II on Commonwealth Day 2013.
The total population of Commonwealth countries is 2.7 billion people, or roughly one-third of humanity. The Commonwealth is home to the world’s youngest population, with more than 1.5 billion people under 30 years old. They are the inventors, the business leaders, the scholars and the artists of the future.
Across the Commonwealth, economic growth varies from approximately 1.5% per annum in the advanced economies to more than 4%annually in emerging and developing markets. Combined GDP is projected to reach more than US$19.5 trillion in 2027, and nearly 20% of global GDP by the end of the decade. Commonwealth countries possess enormous natural resources, from crude oil and natural gas reserves to major deposits of gold, diamonds, platinum, copper, chromium and other metals, as well as large forests, farmlands, oceans and marine ecosystems
Tapping into all this physical and human capital, Commonwealth countries are trading together, doing business, sharing information and commercial links, technology and expertise, promoting development across nations and enjoying cultural exchange and fellowship.
In the words of His Majesty the King, who serves as Head of the Commonwealth, the group is “a precious .. force for unity” in an increasingly “fragmented world” and a “family defined by youth and possibility”. Commonwealth Day is celebrated around the world on the second Monday of March every year, when a special message from the King is issued through Prime Ministers and Presidents to all the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) was established in 1868 in London under Royal Charter. It is an international cultural and educational organisation which functions as a platform connecting charities and non-governmental organisations across the 56 Commonwealth nations.
It is a non-partisan and apolitical organisation and educational charity which works to promote knowledge and appreciation of the Commonwealth and to support its fundamental values, including respect, tolerance, peace, sustainable development, good governance and youth empowerment.
Through educational and youth outreach programmes, RCS seeks to encourage young people to develop their role as global citizens and to engage with challenges facing the international community. Regional and international conferences are held on a regular basis to enable RCS members in different parts of the world to interact, exchange ideas, and cooperate on projects of mutual interest.
