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sectors, plus one reserve.
The existing 5 vessels have a standard Royal Navy hull, but were specially refitted for service in Hong Kong. They are beginning to reach the end of their economical life and the Royal Navy has no standard vessels available or planned which would adequately replace them.
In considering the composition of the Hong Kong Squadron, as between one frigate and 3 patrol vessels or 5 patrol vessels, we must take account of the specifications of the frigate, of the existing patrol vessels and of the proposed replacements. The main advantage of the patrol vessels is that they can remain at sea in weather conditions in which none of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force vessels can operate. On the other hand, they are relatively slow, and they are not an effective deterrent to Chinese gunboats. Their recurrent cost and the cost of their replacement are important factors. This leads us to ask whether fast patrol craft, of a suitable design, are not in service in other navies and might not be purchased from them or built in the yards which produced them. This might be quicker and cheaper than asking the Royal Navy to design, build and provide a special class of vessel for Hong Kong.
Naturally, we must rely heavily on the advice of the Royal Navy as to what would suit our needs best, and how this can be obtained most economically. There is also to be taken into account the desirability of ensuring that we have an integrated marine force, including ships of the Hong Kong Government, to perform all the patrolling which is needed,
In asking these questions we do not, of course, want anyone to think that we have any lack of confidence in the way in which the squadron has been equipped and employed in the past. But the necessity to replace all the present Hong Kong squadron within the next 6 or 7 years and the suggestion that a substantial part of the cost of doing this should be met by Hong Kong requires us to have as much information as possible of the alternatives which are available to us and of all the possible replacements which might be provided during this period.
I should be most grateful if the points which I have made in this overlong letter could be considered and answered as soon as possible: if necessary you may feel you can answer particular points separately from some of the more general points on which I have touched.
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