Our History

World Guiding Origin

The Founder of the Boy Scouts & Girl Guide / Girl Scout Movements was Robert Baden-Powell, First Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell, OM, known universally as B-P.

The Boy Scout Movement was officially founded in 1908.

In 1909, a Boy Scout rally was held at Crystal Palace in London, and Baden-Powell was taken aback when a number of girls attended, proclaiming themselves to be girl Scouts. Baden-Powell invited his sister, Agnes, as the girls' leader and chose the name Girl Guides after the famous corps of guides in India who were "distinguished for their general handiness & resourcefulness under difficulties, and their keenness & courage".

Baden-Powell felt that the Movement for girls should be run by women, so in 1910 he asked his elderly sister Agnes to undertake the work of adapting his book of Scouting for Boys, for use with girls. That year the Guide Movement was formally founded, with the establishment of the Girl Guides Association.

In 1910, Baden-Powell, now Sir Robert Baden-Powell, retired from his army career and devoted himself to Scouting and to the beginning of Guiding. He attended camps, rallies and jamborees all over the world, and it was during a world tour in 1912 that he met Olave Soames, his future wife. After a brief courtship, the couple were engaged and married that same year.

Olave Baden-Powell accompanied her husband on visits and tours, and soon became actively involved in the Guide and Scout Movement. In 1919, she formed the International Council to provide this essential link. The first International Conference was held in England in 1920.

In 1924, the first World Camp, combined with the Third International Conference , took place at Foxlease in the United Kingdom.

In the Fifth International Conference in Hungary in 1928, Conference delegates from 26 countries finally decided that the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts should be established, with a World Bureau as its secretariat.

 

Olave Baden-Powell was elected World Chief Guide in 1930.

Guiding Movement continues to thrive and grow. Nearly ten million girls and young women are members, in 145 Member Organizations worldwide.

    Lord Robert Baden-Powell                 Lady Olave Baden-Powell

Lord Robert Baden-Powell        Lady Olave Baden-Powell

 

Hong Kong Girl Guides' History and Development

2016
2014
2010
2006
2016
Centenary Celebrations
2014
For the first time, the 35th World Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts was held in Hong Kong.
2010
  • Girl Guide members took part in the “Stay Healthy, Stay Smart, Don’t Do Drugs” Musical to promote the message “fight against drug abuse” at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
  • Opening of the HKGGA Tin Shui Wai Pansy Ho Activity Centre.
2006
The 1st “Health, Beauty and Fitness Forum” was successfully held in the summer.
2005
2004
2002
2001
2005
With the support of the Cathay Pacific Airways, the first Air Ranger Betsy Unit was established in February.
2004
The 8th Asia Pacific Regional Conference was held in Hong Kong.
2002
  • Score "A" rating in WAGGGS Health Check.
  • The first “Uniformed Groups 10,000 Miles Friendship Trek” was met by Mr. Hu Jintao, the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China in the Great Hall of the People.
2001
  • HKGGA Youth Council established.
  • HKGGA launched “Happy Bees”, a service programme for 4 to 6 year-old children.
2000
1999
1998
1995
2000
  • Super Brownie Awards were first presented at the Annual Celebration.
  • The world's longest lanyard, made during the Annual Celebration, was recognized by Guinness World Records.
1999
Mrs Betty Tung, President, officiated the Opening Ceremony of Jockey Club Beas River Lodge at Sheung Shui.
1998
1st Asia Pacific Friendship Caravan to China was held.
1995
Bauhinia Division, an amalgamation of English-Speaking units, was established in 1995 to maintain the voice of expatriate Units in the Association.
1994
1992
1991
1990
1994
The 1st Territory wide Headmasters Gathering was held at Government House.
1992
The HKGGA is one of the first subscribers to Hong Kong’s new Charter for Youth.
1991
The 1st unit of Golden Guides was formed.
1990
1st Golden Guide Unit was officially established at the SKH Wong Tai Sin Elderly Centre.
1988
1982
1981
1978
1988
  • Chief Commissioner, Lady Akers-Jones MBE, JP, led a Beijing tour and visited some of the local women and youth organizations.
  • Sha Tin Pok Hong Campsite was opened by the Hon. John Chambers JP, Secretary for Health and Welfare.
1982
The new HKGGA Headquarters building was officially opened by the Governor, Sir Edward Youde.
1981
Hong Kong Girl Guides Association was accepted as a Full member.
1978
  • Hong Kong Girl Guides Association (HKGGA) was accepted as an Associate Member of WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts).
  • A new logo was designed for the Association.
1977
1970
1969
1966
1977
Beas River Holiday House was officially opened by Vice President Lady Archer.
1970
A Commonwealth Trainer, Miss Margaret Flower, came to help the Association carry out the changes needed for up-dating and modernising their activities, known as the 8 Point Programme.
1969
Hong Kong Girl Guides Association joined The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (now The Hong Kong Award for Youth People).
1966
Lady Baden-Powell’s third visit to Hong Kong to celebrate our Golden Jubliee, when she unveiled a plaque at New Sandilands Headquarters. Lady Hogan laid the Foundation Stone in New Sandilands Headquarters.
1962
1958
1953
1952
1962
Lady Baden-Powell paid a second visit to Hong Kong.
1958
  • An important step towards promoting Guiding in Hong Kong took place: the translation into Chinese of "A Guide to Guiding". Since then, a wide selection of Guide literature has been translated.
  • Lady Baden-Powell, the World Chief Guide, first visited Hong Kong.
1953
  • 1st Hong Kong Land Ranger Company was formed.
  • A cadet Company was opened in Hong Kong.
  • Jockey Club Hut, Division Headquarters in Kowloon was opened.
1952
The Association expanded to include Extension Companies and Packs. It was the first time that the Association was reported in the Local Chinese Press.
1947
1932
1919
1916
1947
1st Sea Ranger Unit (Sea Ranger Ship Anson) was formed.
1932
Sandilands Hut, the permanent headquarters of Hong Kong Girl Guides was opened at Victoria Barracks in Hong Kong Island.
1919
The Girl Guides Association, the Hong Kong Branch was registered with Imperial (now Commonwealth) Headquarters in London.
1916
The first Girl Guides unit in Hong Kong was formed in the Victoria British School.

 

 

 

Presidents

Lady Stubbs (1919-1925)

Lady Clementi (1925-1930)

Lady Peel (1930-1935)

Lady Macgregor (1935-1937)

Lady Northcote (1937-1941)

Lady Young (1941-1947)

Lady Grantham (1947-1957)

Lady Black (1957-1964)

Lady Trench (1964-1971)

Lady Maclehose (1971-1982)

Lady Youde (1982-1986)

Lady Wilson (1987-1992)

Mrs Patten (1992-1997)

Mrs Betty Tung (1997-2005)

Mrs Selina Tsang (2005-2012)

Mrs Regina Leung (2012-Present)

 

 

List of Chief Commissioners

 

The Girl Guides Association (Hong Kong Branch) - Colony Commissioners

 

Lady Stubbs

(1920-1925)

Lady Southorn

(1926-1936)

Mrs Mary King MBE

(1936-1940)

Ms W Buckwell

(1940-1944)

Miss Dorothy Lee OBE JP

(1945-1946)

Mrs Iris Herklots

(1946-1948)

Mrs Louisa Landale

(1948-1951)

Mrs H Owen Hughes

(1951-1958)

Mrs Irene Hooton

(1958-1961)

Mrs Margaret Staple MBE

(1961-1966)

Mrs Pauline Stephens

(1966-1968)

Mrs S A Hill

(1968-1972)

Mrs Marguerite Gordon MBE JP

(1972-1978)

              

 

The Hong Kong Girl Guides Association - Chief Commissioners

 

Mrs Marguerite Gordon MBE JP

(1978 - 1980)

Dr Sally Wong Leung GBS OBE JP

(1980 - 1983)

Lady Akers-Jones MBE JP

(1983 - 1994)

Mrs Rita Suen JP

(1994 - 1998)

Dr Alice Lui

(1998 - 2003)

Mrs Julita Lee BBS JP

(2003 - 2008)

Dr Lady Delia Pei KMFAP BBS JP

(2008 - 2011)

Mrs Josephine Pang MH

(2011 - 2014)

Ms Daisy Ho

(2014 - 2015)

Mrs Pearl Lee

(2015 - 2021)
Ms Jeanne Lee BBS JP (2021 - present)

 

Last Update Date: 2022-11-30