The Association, which has its origin in the Hong Kong Police Old Comrades Association, was formerly constituted at a dinner at the Monico Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus, London, on December 16, 1938. Attending that dinner were 18 Hong Kong Police pensioners and eight serving members of the Force. The formation of the Association was regularised by the approval of the Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong.

The Association changed its name to the Hong Kong Police Association in 1958 and in 1970, when the Queen was pleased to confer the title "Royal" upon the Hong Kong Police, the Association was renamed accordingly.

The 50th Anniversary was celebrated with a cocktail reception held on July 8, 1988 at the Royal Overseas League, London. The Guest of Honour on that occasion was Princess Alexandra, the Honorary Commandant General of the Royal Hong Kong Police.

The 70th Anniversary was marked by a lunch held at the Imperial China Restaurant in Soho, London, not far from Piccadilly Circus. Among the 104 members of the Association and guests present, were Ms Sarah Wu, the Director General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, and Mr E C Eates, who was Commissioner of Police in Hong Kong in the 1960s.

Mr Tang was welcomed by Mr Peter Moor, President of the Association. Toasts were given to Her Majesty the Queen and the Hong Kong Police. Mr Keith Lomas, Chairman of the Association, presented Mr Tang with a bound copy of a "Tribute to Founder Members of the Association" produced specially for the 70th Anniversary by Mrs Christine Thomas, the Association's Archivist. The Tribute contains facsimiles of the menu card with the signatures, photographs and summaries of the careers of all present at the dinner on December 16, 1938.

In reply, Mr Tang thanked the Association for inviting him to the lunch. He said he had had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to many of those present before the lunch. He particularly mentioned Mr Sean Healy who was in the same squad at the former Police Training School way back in 1976. Mr Tang then gave a wide-ranging speech on the present day Force, emphasising recent changes and innovations. This was well received by those present.

CP and RHKPA Committee Members (from left) Alan Hornsby, Barry Jones, Will Porter, Sylvia Mansell, John Hazelden, Keith Lomas, Jim Prisk, Topper Brown and Peter Moor

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