CONFIDENT IAL
8.
In fulfilling these roles, the Hong Kong Squadron provides a deterrent
by maintaining continous patrols; undertakes surveillance and boarding and
searching operations to prevent illegal immigration, arms and drug smuggling;
and provides reinforcement in internal security incidents at sea which have
escalated beyond the capability of the Royal Hong Kong Marine Police to
handle on their own.
9. These roles can be undertaken by relatively cheap, simple vessels; to
contemplate any widening of the role for exaple, to resist determined
incursion into Hong Kong waters by units of the CCN - would create the
need for a Squad:on of an entirely different order of size, capability and
sophistication, and should therefore be discounted. The roles, as stated
in para 7 above, would appear to be likely to continue unchanged for the
forseeable future.
TYPE OF REPLACEMENT
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10.
The nature of the role, and many years experience of operating the
Hong Kong Squadron, indicates a minimum requirement for one vessel to be
on patrol in the Colony's waters at all times, or to be at not more than 2
hours' notice. This argues the need for a Squadron comprising several
vessels.
11. The waters around the Colony include many shallow or restricted areas
where the effectiveness of a frigate-size vessel is reduced. While a single
frigate solution can probably be ruled out because of the limitations on
its availability, the requirement can be satisfied by a Squadron composed
of smaller vessels, or of a mix of frigates and smaller vessels.
12.
In their preparatory work towards the Naval Staff Target, the Naval
Staff are considering the possibilities of a Squadron composed of 1 Frigate
4 CONFIDENTIAL