[1] Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has been the only regular British army unit raised in the territory made up almost entirely of Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP).

Hong Kong-born ethnic Chinese soldiers (British Dependent Territories Citizens) of the HKCTU pledged allegiance to the Monarch of the United Kingdom and were enlisted into the General Service Corps (GSC) of the British Regular Army and they wore the GSC capbadge.

In 1962, the HKCTU became the Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC)[2] and consequently the GSC capbadge was replaced by a Dragon emblem.

The HKMSC offered locally recruited and trained Hong Kong Chinese soldiers the opportunity to pursue a full career in the British Regular Army up to and including Queen's Commissioned Officer rank in the General List (HKMSC).

HKMSC soldiers paid United Kingdom income tax (at a 'Hong Kong' rate), via the MoD, like their British counterparts.

The HKMSC reached a peak strength of 1,200 men, providing the British garrison in Hong Kong with support personnel.

In July 2006, Britain granted full British citizenship to all Gurkha soldiers and their dependants who had served in Hong Kong.

[5] Some ex-Hong Kong servicemen who were resident in the United Kingdom re-enlisted in the British Army on a Military Local Service Engagement (MLSE), with the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), and others joined the British Territorial Army (TA).

In late 2012/2013, The Honorable Mr Andrew Rosindell MP (for Romford) United Kingdom (Conservative) took and led this RoA Campaign into the British parliament establishing a 'Parliamentary Support Group' in April 2013.

Rosindell summoned strong support within Government over the following 10 years of parliamentary work, some 350 voices, votes for the ex-Hong Kong servicemen.

On 29 Mar 2023, it was agreed by the British Government and announced this day that RoA in the United Kingdom will be sanctioned to those ex-Hong Kong Servicemen not given RoA on or the handover to PRC China in 1997 under the title, 'New Settlement Route for former Hong Kong Servicemen.