Scout Association of Hong Kong - Policy, Organisation and Rules

Home Scouting Policy and Guidelines Policy, Organisation and Rules

Rule 2 - The Scout Group

Rule 2.3

Group Composition and Organisation

Rule 2.3.1

A Scout Group is led by a Group Scout Leader, who is supported by:
(a) The Group Scouters and Instructors;
(b) Group Lay Members(if any)

Rule 2.3.2

A Scout Group shall consist of at least one of the following five sectional units:
(a) Grasshopper Scout Ring
(b) Cub Scout Pack
(c) Scout Troop
(d) Venture Scout Unit
(e) Rover Scout Crew

Rule 2.3.3

The Grasshopper Scout Ring
(a) A Grasshopper Scout Ring may not have more than thirty-six Grasshopper Scouts.
(b) Grasshopper Scouts wear simple Grasshopper Scout clothing approved by the Association.
(c) The age range of the Grasshopper Scout Section is from the fourth birthday to the eighth birthday. The fourth birthday is the absolute minimum age of entry into the Grasshopper Scout Ring.
(d) The following minimum standards are laid down for Grasshopper Scout Rings:

(i) Numbers – An established Grasshopper Scout Ring shall have a minimum of six Grasshopper Scouts.
(ii)Leaders - There shall be at least two Leaders for the Ring, and at least one of them is a Warranted Leader. There shall be at least one Leader who is of the same gender as the Members; and if the Ring has both male and female Members, there shall be both male and female Leaders, the District Commissioner may, in exceptional circumstances, permit a Grasshopper ring to be exempt from the requirement of having a male Leader.

(e) The District Commissioner is required to assist Rings to meet and exceed the minimum standards. If a Ring fails to reach the minimum standards for two consecutive calendar years, the Ring is liable to be suspended or closed by the District Commissioner with the approval of the Regional Commissioner.

Rule 2.3.4

The Cub Scout Pack
(a) A Cub Scout Pack may not have more than eight Sixes, each of which consists of a Sixer, a Second and up to five other Members.
(b) Sixers are appointed by the Cub Scout Leader. Seconds, who are the Sixers' assistants and deputies, are appointed by the Cub Scout Leader in consultation with the Sixer concerned.
(c) The Sixers' Council consists of the Scouters of the Pack, the Sixers and, if desired, the Seconds.
(d) Cub Scouts wear the Cub Scout uniform approved by the Association.
(e) The age range of the Cub Scout Section is from the age of seven years and six months to the twelfth birthday.
(f) The following minimum standards are laid down for Cub Scout Packs:

(i) Numbers - An established Cub Scout Pack shall have a minimum of twelve Cub Scouts.
(ii) Leaders - There shall be at least two Leaders for the Pack, and at least one of them is a Warranted Leader. There shall be at least one Leader who is of the same gender as the Members; and if the Pack has both male and female Members, there shall be both male and female Leaders.
(iii) Youth Programme and Training - The youth programme and training of Cub Scouts shall be in accordance with the "Cub Scout Training Scheme" and any amendments thereto published by the Association Headquarters and there shall be at least one whole-day Pack outing each calendar year.
(iv) Progress - Each calendar year, at least one quarter of the Pack should gain one of the three Cub Scout Progressive Badges.

(g) The District Commissioner is required to assist Packs to meet and exceed the minimum standards. If a Pack fails to reach the minimum standards for two consecutive calendar years the Pack is liable to be suspended or closed by the District Commissioner with the approval of the Regional Commissioner.

Rule 2.3.5

The Scout Troop
(a) A Scout Troop may not have more than eight Patrols, each of which consists of a Patrol Leader, an Assistant Patrol Leader and up to seven other Members.
(b) Patrol Leaders are appointed by the Scout Leader in consultation with the Patrol Leaders' Council. Assistant Patrol Leaders are appointed by the Patrol Leader with the approval of the Scout Leader and the Patrol Leaders' Council. A Senior Patrol Leader may be appointed by the Scout Leader after consultation with the Patrol Leaders' Council.
(c) The Patrol Leaders' Council consists of the Patrol Leaders of the Troop chaired by the Senior Patrol Leader if one is appointed. Scouters may attend the Patrol Leaders' Council in an advisory capacity. The Patrol Leaders' Council arranges the programme of Troop activities and attends to Troop administration and expenditure.
(d) The Patrol-in-Council is a Meeting of all the Members of the Patrol, called by the Patrol Leader to discuss Patrol affairs.
(e) Scouts wear the appropriate Scout, Sea Scout or Air Scout uniform approved by the Association.
(f) The age range of the Scout Section is from the eleventh birthday to the sixteenth birthday.
(g) The following minimum standards are laid down for Scout Troops:

(i) Numbers - An established Scout Troop shall have a minimum of twelve Scouts.
(ii) Leaders - There shall be at least two Leaders for the Troop and at least one of them is a Warranted Leader. There shall be at least one Leader who is of the same gender as the Members; and if the Troop has both male and female Members, there shall be both male and female Leaders.
(iii) Youth Programme and Training - The youth programme and training of Scouts shall be in accordance with the "Scout Training Scheme" and any amendments thereto published by the Association Headquarters and every Member of the Troop shall have the opportunity of attending at least one Patrol or Troop Camp each calendar year.
(iv) Progress - Each calendar year, at least one quarter of the Troop should gain one of the four Progressive Badges.

(h) The District Commissioner is required to assist Troops to meet and exceed the minimum standards. If a Troop fails to reach the minimum standards for two consecutive calendar years the Troop is liable to be suspended or closed by the District Commissioner with the approval of the Regional Commissioner.

Rule 2.3.6

The Venture Scout Unit
(a) A Venture Scout Unit is made up of Venture Scouts, managed by the Unit Executive Committee.
(b) Members of the Unit Executive Committee are elected by the Venture Scouts of the Unit. The Unit Executive Committee consists of a Chairman and such other Members as they may decide. All Leaders of the Venture Scout Unit are ex officio Members of the Unit Executive Committee. The Unit Executive Committee is responsible for the composition, organisation, programme, training and administration of the Unit. The Venture Scout Leader may choose to be the Chairman of the Unit Executive Committee. If the Venture Scout Leader is not the Chairman of the Unit Executive Committee, the Chairman shall be elected by all the Venture Scouts of the Unit among themselves.
(c) Venture Scouts wear the appropriate Venture Scout, Venture Sea Scout or Venture Air Scout uniform approved by the Association.
(d) The age range of the Venture Scout Section is from the fifteenth birthday to the twenty-first birthday.
(e) The following minimum standards are laid down for Venture Scout Units:

(i) Numbers - An established Venture Scout Unit shall have a minimum of six Venture Scouts.
(ii) Leaders - There shall be at least two Leaders for the Unit and at least one of them is a Warranted Leader. There shall be at least one Leader who is of the same gender as the Members; and if the Unit has both male and female Members, there shall be both male and female Leaders.
(iii) Youth Programme and Training - The youth programme and training of Venture Scouts shall be in accordance with the "Venture Scout Training Scheme" and any amendments thereto published by the Association Headquarters.
(iv) Unit Executive Committee - The Unit Executive Committee is responsible for organising the annual programme of the Unit.

(f) The District Commissioner is required to assist Units to meet and exceed the minimum standards. If a Unit fails to reach the minimum standards for two consecutive calendar years the Unit is liable to be suspended or closed by the District Commissioner with the approval of the Regional Commissioner.

Rule 2.3.7

The Rover Scout Crew
(a) A Rover Scout Crew is made up of Rover Scouts, managed by the Crew Management Committee.
(b) Members of the Crew Management Committee is elected by the Rover Scouts of the Crew and consists of a Chairman and such other Members as they may decide. The Crew Management Committee is responsible for the composition, organisation, programme, training and administration of the Crew.
(c) Rover Scouts wear the appropriate Rover Scout, Rover Sea Scout or Rover Air Scout uniform approved by the Association.
(d) The age range of the Rover Scout Section is from the eighteenth birthday to the twenty-sixth birthday.
(e) The following minimum standards are laid down for Rover Scout Crews:

(i) Numbers - An established Rover Scout Crew may not have less than six Rover Scouts.
(ii) Leaders - There shall be at least two Leaders for the Crew and at least one of them is a Warranted Leader. There shall be at least one Leader who is of the same gender as the Members; and if the Crew has both male and female Members, there shall be both male and female Leaders.
(iii) Youth Programme and Training - The youth programme and training of Rover Scouts shall be in accordance with the "Rover Scout Training Scheme" and any amendments thereto published by the Association Headquarters.
(iv) Crew Management Committee - The Crew Management Committee is responsible for organizing the annual programme of the Unit.

(f) The District Commissioner is required to assist Crews to meet and exceed the minimum standards. If a Crew fails to reach the minimum standards for two consecutive calendar years the Crew is liable to be suspended or closed by the District Commissioner with the approval of the Regional Commissioner.

Rule 2.3.8

To meet the special circumstances of each case and/or the demands of individual stage of development, the District Commissioner may, in exceptional circumstances, permit a child or a youth or a youth member to join or remain in a Section (as the case may be) outside the prescribed age limits stated above, subject to Rule 2.3.3(c) regarding the minimum age of entry into the Grasshopper Scout Ring.