In 1976, a brigade of Gurkhas (48 Gurkha Brigade) based in Sek Kong in the New Territories, regularly raised a rugby team that was called “Kukris” to play in the Hong Kong League. The Royal Air Force that had been stationed at Kai Tak airport since the 1920s was moved to the airfield at Sek Kong and considerable building was carried out to accommodate the various units including 28 (AC) Squadron that operated Wessex aircraft in support of the army garrison. The RAF also fielded a side. The 660 Squadron Army Air Corps were also moved to Sek Kong. Since Kukris and RAF suffered from a shortage of rugby players and therefore had difficulty in competing with the bigger clubs (Club, Police, and the Stanley Battalion etc) it was decided that a combined New Territories military club should be formed.

The commander, Colonel Bob Richardson‐Aitken had played club rugby in Wales and for the Colony and the Brigade Commander of 48 Brigade, Brigadier Morgan Llewellyn (another Welshman) instructed him to get on with the job of forming the club and arranging the fixtures.

There was much debate about naming the new organisation, but in the end it was agreed that the name would, indeed, be Flying Kukris. The colours in which we played were chosen because there was little money and the only property we owned was the strip of the original teams.

Thus, Ahluwallia the tailor was tasked with stitching together shirts consisting of dark green from Kukris, red from Army and pale blue for RAF. In the early days the sides were about 65% army and 35% airforce and played on the football ground at Sek Kong which became our exclusive preserve and our home.