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War veterans have won their battle to hold a Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in Central next month. But some are disappointed the Government will not take a leading role.

 The Government yesterday granted permission for the Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen's Association to host the ceremony, previously run by the British Garrison.

 The fate of the service had hung in the balance. Officials had to check whether Remembrance Day events would be allowed, whether flags could be flown and whether structural alterations were necessary at the monument, such as removing colonial crowns from flagpoles.

 The ceremony will be different to previous years when the British military provided gun salutes, buglers and guards of honour. Association president and former brigadier Christopher Hammerbeck said change was appropriate.

 Previously, British military chiefs, governors, executive and legislative councillors and members of the Judiciary attended.

 Mr Hammerbeck said Tung Chee-hwa would be invited, but he refused to reveal who else was on the list of about 50 organisations.

 The list is likely to include the PLA and representatives of Canada, which sent regiments for the defence of Hong Kong in 1941.

 'The broad principle is that on November 9 we should be able to hold the service, we will be able to wear our medals and we will be able to lay our wreaths.

 'Most importantly, we will be able to remember our dead friends,' Mr Hammerbeck, a Gulf War veteran, said.

 The ceremony will be officiated by association chairman Willie Mok Kong-sang and it is hoped about 1,000 veterans will attend.

 Mr Mok, formerly a captain in the British Army, pledged to make the service as grand and as memorable as possible, but he criticised the Government for not playing a leading role.

 'We are only a very small group so it is harder for us to lease equipment and so on.'  A Government spokesman said once invitations were received it would decide who would participate. The flying of flags at the monument was being considered.



War veterans win battle for remembrance