This is my story - Hong Kong/Taiwan - 80

80 – Farewell Hong Kong and Taiwan

I have devoted 25 chapters to Hong Kong and Taiwan. A lot remains untold, but time is passing so quickly and I feel I should conclude my series with this chapter.

One evening whilst enjoying our dinner a call came from Commissioner William Rivers of International Headquarters. After enquiring about our welfare, he proceeded to tell us that General Eva Burrows, our international leader who was on tour at that time, had requested him to convey to us her intention for us to farewell from Hong Kong then added, “She is appointing you and your wife to the Philippines Territory – as the Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Organisations respectively. The change is to take effect on 1^st June 1990. You will receive the confirmation in writing in due course.”

We received the news with mixed feelings. We were sorry to leave the folk in Hong Kong and Taiwan; people we had grown to love. However as officers of The Salvation Army, we were committed to go where our leaders chose to send us without questioning. When we signed our covenant, we vowed that we would obey the lawful orders of our leaders.

It came as no surprise for we had already served more than seven years – the longest serving leaders in the Hong Kong/Taiwan Command. We were then informed that my General Secretary and Mrs. Lieut. Colonel Banks would be our successors.

In the period of our leadership we had seen many changes. Not only in Hong Kong have there been changes, there were also momentous changes in China. We were happy to hand over the Command to our General Secretary who had served with us for the last couple of years and had an understanding of the situation in Hong Kong. They had seen service in Japan, United Kingdom and South Africa. Their knowledge and experience in working in cross cultures would be of great benefit to Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The highlight during our term of office was the official opening of Command Headquarters. It was a thrilling and exhilarating experience. The presence of the Chicago Staff Band added colour to this momentous event in the history of The Army. Busy Nathan Road came to a halt while the band led the march of representative Salvationists all in full uniform from the old Headquarters at Nathan Road to the new Headquarters at Wing Sing Lane.  The Governor of Hong Kong Sir Edward Youde and the International Secretary for South Pacific and East Asia Commissioner William Cairns officiated. The latter prayed the dedicatory prayer and led the weekend’s meetings.

We give thanks to God for making it possible to re-open the Training College in the new building. There had been no training of cadets in Hong Kong for several years. Three cadets were sent to the Philippines for training during that period. We prayed hard and in 1984, we were able to welcome seven cadets to the ‘Proclaimers of the Gospel’ Session. What an answer to prayer and encouragement to our faith! At the same time, we were processing the papers of more cadets for the 1985-87 session.  We were pleased to have Captain Robert Paterson of Australia appointed as the Training Principal with Mrs. Captain Margaret Hay, a New Zealander as the Education Officer. Her husband Captain Laurence Hay was the Principal of William Booth Secondary School. Mrs. Captain Glenda Paterson was the Home Officer.

We then began our round of farewells throughout the Command of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Philippines Territory was not new to me for I had visited a couple of times before to conduct meetings. For my wife it would be a totally new experience.

The Command farewell meeting was held on Thursday 25^th May 1990 at the Kowloon Central Corps led by the General Secretary Lieut. Colonel William Banks. The meeting ended with the congregation singing “I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.” 

Then the final farewell was to our faithful dog, Rex a German shepherd. Lieut. Colonel Banks was not interested in having him; neither did Major Tan Thean Seng, the newly appointed General Secretary. In the end we offered it to our former neighbours Mr, and Mrs.Yue who were delighted to have him.

We were now ready to go. We closed another chapter of our lives, and moved forward to our next appointment – Philippines. We gave thanks to God for the privilege of serving the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan for the seven and half years. To God be the glory!