Hong Kong Adventure Corps

The Hong Kong Adventure Corps (HKAC), also known in Chinese as 香港少年領袖團, is a voluntary uniformed youth organisation serving Hong Kong. It was established in 1995 with the approval of the then Home Affairs Bureau after the disbandment of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and its Junior Leader Corps. The organisation carries forward elements of the regiment’s cadet tradition while operating as a civilian youth body rather than as a military unit of the Hong Kong government or the Hong Kong disciplined services. The Corps presents its training philosophy in a distinctly military-influenced style. Its stated objectives include developing responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance, perseverance, leadership, social awareness and a commitment to community service. Discipline, challenge and esprit de corps are central elements of its identity. Training is designed for young people and combines parade and drill with outdoor adventure, fieldcraft, fitness, leadership development and ceremonial participation. HKAC membership traditionally covers young people from 11 to 21. New entrants begin as recruits and may become cadets after completing initial training and passing a formal passing-out process. The Junior Dragon Squadron, created in 2014, extends participation to children aged nine or above through a programme with less demanding physical requirements. Members can progress through cadet non-commissioned-officer ranks and may earn specialist qualifications or badges in areas such as first aid, marksmanship, band performance, guard of honour duties and the Hong Kong Award for Young People. The Corps operates from a headquarters and training complex at High Island in Sai Kung. The site was formerly associated with British military and correctional facilities. Activities include basic training, drill, parade, abseiling, climbing, high-event and obstacle courses, fieldcraft, night walks, camping, air-rifle shooting, water sports and marching-band instruction. Cadets may also take part in guard-of-honour duties and other formal ceremonies. Some affiliated schools conduct unit-level training, and the organisation has supported exchanges with the British Army Cadet Force and other youth groups, including cultural exchanges with mainland China. HKAC’s visual identity reflects its heritage. Its badge uses a twin-dragon design associated with the Royal Hong Kong Regiment, with the pre-1997 crown replaced by a bauhinia. The Corps received a scarlet swallow-tailed guidon in 2005, while a red, yellow and blue colour serves as a broader ceremonial rallying symbol. Uniforms and ceremonial practices draw on British Army and former Royal Hong Kong Regiment conventions, although the Corps has its own rules, insignia, awards and distinctions. The organisation is subsidised by the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated vehicles, while other grants have supported equipment and water-sports facilities. HKAC also provides scholarships to qualifying former members admitted to local universities. It issues internal service and merit awards, including long-service medals, distinguished- and meritorious-service medals, commandant commendations and a Silver Jubilee Medal issued in connection with its 25th anniversary. The Corps remains an active Hong Kong youth and community organisation with a specialised combination of uniformed discipline, adventure training, ceremonial tradition and leadership education.

The Hong Kong Adventure Corps was founded on 4 September 1995 as a successor to the Junior Leader Corps of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers). The predecessor programme had been established in 1971 by the colonial government and was influenced by the British Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force. It was intended to give young people structured military-style instruction and leadership experience. The predecessor accepted boys only, whereas the HKAC was established as a programme for both boys and girls. The Corps inherited traditions from the Royal Hong Kong Regiment, including elements of British Army drill, dress, rank structure, ceremonial practice and field training. Its insignia retains a twin-dragon motif associated with the former regiment, while the crown in the older design was replaced by a bauhinia following the 1997 handover. The Corps also maintains a Foundation Day tradition connected symbolically with the 99 Europeans who formed the first Hong Kong Volunteers establishment in 1854 and the nine cadets in the HKAC’s first 1995 intake. Its main facilities are at High Island in Sai Kung District. The headquarters and training camp occupy a site formerly used by the British military, while a nearby facility was previously associated with staff quarters for a correctional institution holding Vietnamese refugees. From 1995 to 2009, the former Burma Lines Camp at Queen’s Hill, Fanling, was also used for training. HKAC instruction combines basic military-style training with youth development. Cadets receive drill and parade instruction, fitness and adventure training, fieldcraft, camping, night navigation and related outdoor education. Facilities and activities have included an abseiling tower, climbing wall, high-event challenge course, obstacle course and indoor air-rifle programme. Water activities are conducted using the Chong Hing Water Sports Centre, and the Corps maintains a band programme. Cadets can serve in ceremonial guards and participate in exchanges with the British Army Cadet Force and other youth organisations. The organisation has progressively broadened access to its programmes. The Junior Dragon Squadron was established in 2014 for younger participants. In late 2017, recruitment became a year-round activity rather than being limited principally to an annual intake period. Online applications for cadets and instructors were introduced in 2017 and 2018. The Corps also functions as an Operating Authority for the Hong Kong Award for Young People, linking its training system with an established youth achievement framework. The Corps’ equipment and transport reflect a mixture of inherited, donated and training-specific assets. Some equipment came from the former Royal Hong Kong Regiment, while replica weapons are used as instructional aids. Two decommissioned BTR-70 armoured personnel carriers confiscated by Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department during an illegal shipment in 2000 are displayed at the High Island camp. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated vehicles, and public recreation funding has supported replacement of older inflatable boats with a rigid inflatable boat for water activities. HKAC maintains its own internal recognition system, including long-service, distinguished-service and meritorious-service medals, commandant commendations and specialist badges. It also provides scholarships for members who enter local universities as full-time students. In 2020, the organisation issued a Silver Jubilee Medal to mark 25 years since its establishment. The Corps continues to operate as a Hong Kong youth organisation centred on discipline, adventure, leadership, ceremonial service and community contribution.

• 2020

  Silver Jubilee Medal issued

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  The Corps marked its 25th anniversary with an internal commemorative medal.

• 2017

  Year-round recruitment introduced

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  Recruitment was expanded beyond the former seasonal intake cycle.

• 2014

  Junior Dragon Squadron established

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  A younger-entry programme was introduced for children aged nine or above.

• 2012

  Service dress introduced for adult members

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  The Corps adopted a service-dress style influenced by the British Army’s Future Army Dress for adult officers and other ranks.

• 2005

  Corps guidon presented

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  The Corps received a scarlet ceremonial guidon featuring its twin-dragon arms and establishment symbolism.

• 1995

  Hong Kong Adventure Corps founded

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  The HKAC was established on 4 September following the disbandment of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment and its Junior Leader Corps.

• 1971

  Royal Hong Kong Regiment Junior Leader Corps established

  [1]Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor youth organisation was created under the colonial government with reference to British cadet-force models.

A disciplined, army-oriented youth organisation combining British-influenced cadet traditions with adventure education, leadership development and community service in Hong Kong.

• Youth training programme · 1995

  Recruit Basic Training Course

  The entry-level programme introduces new members to the Corps’ expectations, uniformed discipline, basic field skills, physical training, drill and teamwork. Successful recruits may qualify for cadet status following the required training and passing-out process.

• Junior youth programme · 2014

  Junior Dragon Squadron

  Established in 2014, the Junior Dragon Squadron provides an age-appropriate introduction to the Corps for children aged nine or above. Its physical requirements are lighter than those of the standard army-oriented cadet programme, while retaining an emphasis on discipline, participation and personal development.

• Outdoor education · 1995

  Adventure and Field Training

  This training stream includes fitness, climbing, abseiling, obstacle and high-event challenges, fieldcraft, camping, night walks and outdoor tactics. Activities are intended to build endurance, resourcefulness, confidence and leadership through demanding group tasks.

• Ceremonial education · 1995

  Ceremonial and Band Training

  Members learn drill, parade procedures, marching-band skills and guard-of-honour duties. The programme allows cadets to participate in formal occasions while learning the Corps’ inherited ceremonial traditions, rank conventions and guidon practices.

• Youth achievement programme

  Hong Kong Award for Young People activities

  The Corps serves as an Operating Authority for the Hong Kong Award for Young People, enabling members to pursue recognised youth-development achievements alongside their Corps training.

• 2020

  Silver Jubilee commemorationOther

  Background

  The Corps reached 25 years of operation in 2020.

  Action taken

  It issued a Silver Jubilee Medal to eligible members.

  Aftermath

  The medal became part of the organisation’s internal commemorative and service-recognition tradition.

  Source

• 2017

  Expansion of recruitment and online applicationsStrategy

  Background

  The Corps adjusted its intake process to respond to participation needs and make recruitment more accessible.

  Action taken

  It began recruiting throughout the year from late 2017 and subsequently accepted online applications for cadets and instructors.

  Aftermath

  Recruitment became less dependent on the former March-to-May annual intake cycle.

  Source

• 2014

  Creation of the Junior Dragon SquadronProduct launch

  Background

  The Corps sought to provide an entry route for younger children who were not yet eligible for the standard cadet programme.

  Action taken

  It established the Junior Dragon Squadron for participants aged nine or above, with less demanding physical requirements.

  Aftermath

  The initiative broadened the age range through which young people could begin engaging with the organisation.

  Source

1. 1Hong Kong Adventure Corpsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hong Kong Adventure Corps official websitehkac.org