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More people needed to help with Poppy Day appeal

This Saturday is Poppy Day and Sunday, November 10 is Remembrance Day.

On Sunday, we, as a community, will assemble in Central at the Cenotaph for the annual service to remember all those men and women who gave their lives in active service in all conflicts.

The ceremony is being organised by the Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen's Association whose members are brothers in arms with the veterans of the British Legion, the ex-POW Association and other organisations who fought in Hong Kong and the Far East.

The Cenotaph has stood in Central since 1923. Through the battle and occupation of Hong Kong it remained untouched and clearly still respected. About 30 years ago we ex-servicemen asked that Chinese characters be put on either side of the Cenotaph. Translated they say: 'Eternal is the noble spirit' and 'The heroic spirit is imperishable'.

I would like to encourage readers to support the annual appeal day of the Royal British Legion (Hong Kong and China Branch). We need people to sell or buy a poppy.

We urgently require more people to take poppies to sell in their offices, clubs and shops on or before Saturday. Poppies can be obtained from our depot, Room 431, 4/F Prince's Building, Central (phone - 2537 9108, 2537 9371).

The use of offices and phones has been donated by the Hong Kong Land Company and Pacific Century CyberWorks respectively.

I would also like to thank our friends at Swire Properties for allowing us to sell poppies in Pacific Place on November 8 and 9 and to the Town Crier and DollarSaver magazines which have allowed us to run an advert.

It should be stressed that the money raised from the sale of poppies is disbursed locally to ex-servicemen, widows and dependents, all of whom are Hong Kong citizens. These people risked their lives in the defence of Hong Kong against the attack of the Japanese forces in 1941. They stood by Hong Kong in its time of need. We should now help them in their time of need. They are now too old and weak to obtain work to provide themselves with the basic requirements of food and accommodation.

Donations are also welcome (make cheques out to The Royal British Legion). They should be sent to: The Royal British Legion (Hong Kong and China Branch) GPO Box 4747, Hong Kong.

Please also 'remember' by attending the ceremony at the Cenotaph on Sunday (10.45am).

JACK EDWARDS

Chairman

The Royal British Legion (Hong Kong and China Branch)

Honorary Chairman

The Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen's Association

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