St. David's Society of Hong Kong

The St. David's Society of Hong Kong (Welsh: Cymdeithas Dewi Sant) is a membership society for Welsh people in Hong Kong, or for anyone in Hong Kong who has an association with, or affinity for, Wales. It provides a point of social contact for Welsh people in Hong Kong and anyone with an affiliation with Wales, whether through school, university, work, or simply a love of the country. Social gatherings vary from year to year but are always focused on light-hearted entertainment and the enjoyment of each other's company. The Society also makes annual donations to charities in Hong Kong and Wales, from proceeds raised at events held throughout the year. The Society traces its origins to the first recorded gathering of note to celebrate St. David's Day, a banquet held on 1 March 1911 at the Hong Kong Hotel, Queen's Road Central, near Pedder Street. From that date a record has been kept of all Presidents of the Society. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, St. David's Day was celebrated in the internment camp in Stanley, with music by The Welsh Male Voice Choir under the leadership of the Reverend Richards, of Radnor, who also gave Welsh lessons to those inmates who wished to learn the language of heaven. The Society continued to grow after the war, and since that time officers and members have included an acting Governor of Hong Kong, Chief Justice, Attorney General, Postmaster General, Commissioner of Customs & Excise, the Head of Hong Kong Land, the Legal Advisor to HSBC, the editor of The Far East Economic Review, the youngest ever full Professor of Law at The University of Hong Kong, and a number of senior military officers. The Society also created a benevolent fund to assist Welshmen in distress. Today the Society remains active, organising social events and charitable giving, and serving as a focal point for the Welsh community and friends of Wales in Hong Kong.

There is no record of the first organized association of Welsh people in Hong Kong. There were eminent Welshmen in Canton, both as senior staff of the East India Co., such as William Parry and Samuel Williams, and as officers of the East Indiamen and of the country ships trading from India. After the founding of Hong Kong, a number of Welshmen rose to senior positions in Government service, the Armed Forces and in business. Tudor Davies, who was Chief Magistrate in 1859, played an important role in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. The first recorded gathering of note to celebrate St. David's Day was the banquet of 1 March 1911, held at the Hong Kong Hotel, Queen's Road Central, near Pedder Street. From that date a record has been kept of all Presidents of the Society. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, St. David's Day was celebrated in the internment camp in Stanley. The proceedings included music by The Welsh Male Voice Choir under the leadership of the Reverend Richards, of Radnor, who also gave Welsh lessons to those inmates who wished to learn the language of heaven. The Society continued to grow after the war and since that time officers and members have included an acting Governor of Hong Kong, Chief Justice, Attorney General, Postmaster General, Commissioner of Customs & Excise, the Head of Hong Kong Land, the Legal Advisor to HSBC, the editor of The Far East Economic Review, the youngest ever full Professor of Law at The University of Hong Kong and a number of senior military officers. The Society also created a benevolent fund to assist Welshmen in distress. Today, the Society remains a membership society for Welsh people in Hong Kong, or for anyone in Hong Kong who has an association with, or affinity for, Wales. It provides a point of social contact and organizes social gatherings that vary from year to year but are always focused on light-hearted entertainment and the enjoyment of each other's company. It also makes annual donations to charities in Hong Kong and Wales, from proceeds raised at events held throughout the year.

• 1941

  During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, St. David's Day was celebrated in the Stanley internment camp.

• 1911

  First recorded St. David's Day banquet held at the Hong Kong Hotel, Queen's Road Central.

• The Society created a benevolent fund to assist Welshmen in distress.

A social and charitable membership society for Welsh people and friends of Wales in Hong Kong.

1. 1St. David's Society of Hong Kongstdavidshongkong.com
2. 2Our Story — St. David's Society of Hong Kongstdavidshongkong.com
3. 3St. David's Society of Hong Kongwikidata.org