The George V Seal

Having considered at some length the arguments about the flag badge, we must now return to the public seal. On the death of Queen Victoria a new seal must have been obtained for use during the reign of King Edward VII, but no copy is at present available. On the accession of King George V in 1910 a new Seal was obtained, as shown in Plate VIII, It is similar in general pattern to the Victorian seal in that it contains the Royal Arms, a version of the harbour picture and an inscription which reads-

GEORGVS V DG BRITT ET TERRARVM TRANSMAR QVAE INDIT SVNT BRIT REX FD IND IMP: * HONG KONG

The picture resembles closely the 1876 flag badge rather than the 1842 seal, but it is by no means identical. A reproduction of this Seal, in plaster, appeared over the lift in the old Secretariat building which was pulled down in 1954, to make place for the present Central Government Offices.

* Note: DEi GRATIA, BRITANNIARUM ET TERRARUM TRANSMARINARUM QUAE INDITAE SUNT BRITANNIAE REX, FIDE! DEFENSOR, INDIAE IMPERATOR. (The use of two Ts in BRITT is obscure.)