Boy Scouts Camp
Week End Under Canvas On Beacon Hill

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   More than 300 Boy Scouts from different troops in Hongkong, Kowloon and the New Territories camped under canvas in the woods behind Kowloon Tong during the weekend. The camp was an experiment and was the first of its kind held in the Colony.
   The site was between Beacon Hill and Lion Rock, near the Kowloon Reservoir, and almost directly above the railway tunnel. Tents were pitched in clearings covering a fairly large area.
   The Camp opened on Friday afternoon, when the troops began to gather. Flag staffs were created and the troops were drawn up for the flag breaking ceremony. As the bugles sounded, the Union Jack and Chinese national flag were broken and the Scouts, standing at attention, saluted.
   Mr. Chan Fook-hong, District Commissioner for Kowloon and the New Territories, who was in charge of the Camp, addressed the assembly. He reminded them of the fourth Scout Law, which says that a Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belonged. If the peoples of the nations of the earth only followed that law, he said, there would be more happiness and peace in the world.
   There had been very few opportunities in the past, he went on, enabling Scouters and Scouts to come into close contact. That lack of congenial social gatherings possibly led indirectly to misunderstanding, prejudice and a false sense of superiority on the part of one class or nation over the other.
   Mr. Chan said it was unfortunate that the Colony Commissioner, the Rev. N.V.Halward, was unable to be with them, as he was engaged in refugee work in Kunming. When the time come, he concluded, he hoped all Scouts would be as self sacrificing as their Commissioner in an emergency.

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Saturday's Camp Fire

   After being dismissed, the Scouts busted themselves creating their tents. On Saturday night, all gathered around a campfire, where they enjoyed themselves singing to musical accompaniment.
   Various competitions were held, for which prizes were donated by friends. Each Scout who attended the Camp was presented with a handy and informative album.
   The Camp was primarily intended for troops in Kowloon and New Territories, but several troops from Hongkong accepted the invitation to participate. During the last two years, the number of troops on the mainland has increased considerably and there are now 27 in Kowloon, with village troops in Tai Po Tsai, Fanling and Sheung Shui.
   The Camp was thrown open to the public on Saturday afternoon, and several prominent guests paid a visit. Mrs. D.Booker and Mr. G.S.Wilby assisted in conducting visitors around.
   After two days and two nights under canvas, Camp was broken at 4 p.m. yesterday.