Hong Kong medals - Poon Kwok-kuen, HK Civil Aid Service

My last post mentioned medals issued to members of the Hong Kong discplined services. What they did in the wake of the Hong Kong ferry disaster was certainly worthy of recognition, and our thoughts and prayers still go out to those affected by the tragedy of 1 October.

Hong Kong has several disciplined services ready to serve and protect and who issue medals to recognise that service:

HK Police Force
HK Auxiliary Police
Fire Services Department (includes Ambulance services)
HK Customs
HK Immigration
HK Correctional Services
Government Flying Service
HK Civil Aid Service (a volunteer civil defence service)
Auxiliary Medical Service (volunteer medical support force)
St. John Ambulance

I acquired the group above earlier in the year and it comprises the following medals (from left):

• Civil Defence Long Service Medal (EIIR) - unnamed
• HK Civil Aid Service Long Service Medal in Gold (engraved Poon Kwok Kuen in Chinese and English)
• HK Civil Aid Service Long Service Medal in Platinum (engraved Poon Kwok Kuen in Chinese and English)

The group was awarded to Senior Section Officer Poon Kwok-kuen, who joined the Civil Aid Service in 1971. The Civil Defence Long Service Medal is awarded for 15 years service. After Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997, this was replaced by the Civil Aid Service Long Service Medal which comes in four classes:

Platinum - 30 years service
Gold - 25 years Service
Silver - 20 years service
Bronze - 15 years service

After the 1997 handover, those who had British long service awards automatically received the equivalent post-handover version. Mr. Poon therefore received the award in Gold as soon as the handover occurred, and the Platinum class in 2001. It would appear that members only received the one medal to recognise prior service, so Poon did not receive the Bronze and Silver classes as well.

Hong Kong medals very rarely come on the market, and intact groups even less so, and I'm very glad to have this rarity in my collection along with a number of other Hong Kong groups. Details of these other groups are for a later post though!