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Here’s a new item that I have not seen before. This cufflink was being sold by “Victorian Village Antiques” out of Glasgow, Scotland. Their eBay store says that The Victorian Village Antiques (brick and mortar) store was established over 30 years ago but closed in 2006. However, due to demand, they are now offering the same unique service online .

The description of this specific item reads:

“Unusual cufflink in good condition for age. Blue enamel detail, with little boating scene. Hallmarked “Sterling” - Size approx- 24mm x 20mm.”

Unfortunately it appears that the seller only had one cufflink, making it pretty much unwearable - but still a nice addition to one’s collection.

While it’s still there the eBay auction number is 230221975361

Tom

On 30 April 1841, 12 weeks after the British had landed in Hong Kong, orders were given by Captain Charles Elliot to establish a police force in the new colony. The first chief of police was Captain William Caine, who also served as the Chief Magistrate. The Hong Kong Police was officially established by the colonial government on 1 May 1844, and the duties of the magistrate and head of police were separated. At the time of its establishment the police force consisted of 32 men. It was a multi-racial force, including white officers, and constables of Indian (mostly Sikhs from Punjab), Chinese and other origins.

The 1950s saw the commencement of Hong Kong’s 40-yr rise to global eminence. Throughout this period the police have successfully tackled many issues that have challenged HK’s stability. Between 1949-89 Hong Kong experienced several waves of immigration from mainland China, notably 1958-62. The force also took over responsibility for manning the border from British forces in 1990-91. In the 1970s/80s large numbers of Vietnamese ‘boat people’ arrived in Hong Kong posing challenges first for marine police, secondly for officers who manned the dozens of camps in the territory and lastly for those who had to repatriate them.

Most serious though were the riots. In 1956 supporters of the China Nationalist movement defied government regulations to provide the pretext for the eruption of conflict with pro-Communist activists and sympathisers - serious disorder was suppressed by the force and British military. In 1966 Communist-inspired riots broke out over a price rise on the Star Ferry; and following this instance in spring 1967, at the time of the Cultural Revolution in China, left-wing workers instigated long and bloody riots. The Hong Kong Police lost ten men during the turmoil which saw a 10-month campaign of bombing and murder. For its determined and successful efforts in suppressing this lengthy insurrection the HKP were granted the “Royal” prefix in 1969. This made the Royal Hong Kong Police one of only five forces in the Commonwealth of Nations to receive this honour and HRH Princess Alexandra was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to become the Commandant General of the Royal Hong Kong Police.

The “Royal” prefix was dropped at midnight on 1 July 1997 when China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong, and the force reverted to the title ‘Hong Kong Police’.
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The Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) is a well-trained, committed voluntary medical and health services provider in Hong Kong. Its mission is to supply effectively and efficiently regular services to maintain the health and well-being of people in Hong Kong.

The AMS was officially formed in 1950 with 2000 volunteers. As of 2007, number of volunteers grown to 4418. It was involved in major accidents and events in Hong Kong like the Shek Kip Mei fire in 1953, Typhoon Wendy in 1962 and landslides caused by heavy rainstorms in 1972. It also served during SARS in Hong Kong in 2003 and 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Normally, it sends out volunteers to fireworks display, marathons, and major events.

In 1983, the AMS became an independent government operation branch under the Security Department of the Government Secretariat.

A public hotline for enquiry about the services of AMS and a Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport team were set up in 1995 and 1996 respectively. The Youth Ambassador Scheme has also been implemented in 1997 with the objectives to encourage young people to have a healthy lifestyle and promote a sense of civic duties.
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The Civil Aid Service, or CAS in short, is a civil organisation that assist in a variety of auxiliary emergency roles, including search and rescue operations in Hong Kong:

• providing support to the government regular emergency forces on counter disaster activities, mountain search and rescue, flood rescue, countryside fire protection duties
• providing crowd control and management services in major public functions
• patrolling country parks and hiking trails and assisting people in need of help
• staging performances to enhance public attention on major campaigns or activities organised by government departments and non-government organisations
• providing training activities and professional services on mountain safety/rescue for government departments and non-government organisations

The service was formed in 1952 under the British colonial government of Hong Kong and modelled after Civil Aid agencies in the United Kingdom. Today’s CAS is funded by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

As well, a youth section, CAS Cadet Corps, adds 3,232 volunteers to the regular 3,634 force.
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The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined unit of the Government of Hong Kong SAR. It was established on 1 April 1993, when Hong Kong was under British rule. It then took over all the non-military operations of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF), which was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force. After Hong Kong was reunited with the People’s Republic of China in 1997, the GFS remained as a government unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and is responsible for search and rescue (SAR), air ambulance, firefighting and police operations.

The service operates from the southwestern end of Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok. Before the opening of the Chek Lap Kok airport in 1998, it operated from the old Kai Tak Airport (i.e. the former Hong Kong International Airport). GFS patrols a 400 nautical mile radius of Hong Kong’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region, as well as the Hong Kong Flight Information Region (FIR), which covers most of the South China Sea basin.

In 2007, the former dispersal in the old Kai Tak Airport was re-opened as a sub-base, providing refueling and other supporting services for GFS’s helicopters.
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The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for immigration control of Hong Kong.

Apart from immigration control, the Department has a Registration of Persons division where Hong Kong residents go to register births, deaths and marriages and obtain identity cards.

In the 1990’s the Department is the British passports issuing authority in Hong Kong until the end of British colonial rule. After that the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong for the Home Secretary takes up this role.

Since 1 July 1997, under the auspices of the Basic Law of Hong Kong and instructions for implenenting the Nationality Law, both by PRC lawmakers, the Immigration Department issues the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport and other international travel documents on its own, and is in charge of administering the Nationality Law within its realms. This is a rare exception to the rule that issuing passports and administering nationality-related matters are usually a role of a centralised authority.
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Fire Services Department of the Hong Kong Government is an emergency service responsible for fire-fighting and rescue on land and sea. It also provides an emergency ambulance service for the sick and the injured, and gives fire protection advice to the public.

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) is under the Secretary for Security who heads the Security Bureau.

The history of the Hong Kong Fire Service began in the Government Gazette dated May 9th, 1868. Charles May became the first Superintendent of the Fire Brigade. At the time, the Fire Department was part of the police force. It had a total strength of 62 with a supplement of 100 Chinese volunteers.

The fire department expanded to 140 members during the 1920’s. During the Japanese Occupation during the World War II, the Service disbanded. The two fire engines were exported to Tokyo to become part of the Imperial Palace Fire Unit. It was only returned after the War. Unlike Canada, UK and some countries, Hong Kong’s ambulance service is tied directly with the Fire Department. At that time all emergency ambulance service was provided by the Fire Service while non-emergency was handled by the Medical Corps.

In 1953, this policy was changed and all Medical Corps vehicles and crew were transferred to the Fire Service. Thus, leading to the creation to the present Ambulance Command. Over the past 50 years it has grown to accommodate 30 ambulance depots, 240 ambulances, 35 motocycles and 2,350 uniformed staff.
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Hong Kong Correctional Services (also called Correctional Services Department, or CSD) is responsible for prisoners and prisons in Hong Kong. The Commissioner of Correctional Services reports to the Secretary for Security.

Although the Chief Magistrate was given control over prisons in 1841, the legislation to create the department did not come into being until 1853. The CSD was part of the Hong Kong Police Force until 1879 when the role of Superintendent of the Gaol was created.
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The Hong Kong Police Force is the police force of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Formed in 1844 with a strength of 35, the force evolved from an extremely broad-based role (with responsibilities that included fire-fighting, prisons, customs and immigration), to that of a traditional police service, with mostly civic responsibilities - although the force is still heavily committed to countering illegal immigration and smuggling. As of 28 February 2007, the Force has a strength of 27,375 and 4,885 civilian employees. The force was named Royal Hong Kong Police Force by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 and retained that name until the handover in 1997.

The police in Hong Kong operate under local legislation and British common law and within the traditional constabulary concept of preserving life and property, preventing and detecting crime and keeping the peace. For times of emergency the force has a paramilitary capability. The Commissioner of Police reports to the Secretary for Security, who is responsible for all security services in Hong Kong.

As the Hong Kong Police Force have over 150 years of professional experience and a fine foundation of policies; in addition with its strict to rule by law, and the swift of orgainising cases, the Hong Kong Police Force is often referred as the Best Police Force in Asia, and is a World-class Police Force.
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