Conclusions

Abstract

The last chapter concludes the book, summarises its content, and offers an overview of the role played by Hong Kong servicemen throughout colonial history, their historical experience, and the relationship between them and the colonial authorities and the British military. It suggests that the experience of the Hong Kong servicemen reveals that collaboration and cooperation existed between the British and the locals at different levels, and that the agency of the Hongkongers should not be overlooked. Hongkongers from a variety of ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds served in the British armed forces for various reasons, from seeking a secure career to earn respectability in the society. Tension existed among the Hong Kong servicemen as they were such a diverse group, but they operated effectively and were generally reliable throughout their service. This fact speaks volumes about the efficiency of the British military system and its ability to manage troops from very different backgrounds. The chapter also deals briefly with the relevance of the wartime history and the experience of the Hong Kong servicemen in post-1997 Hong Kong.