CONFIDENTIAL
15. If, for reasons of operational effectiveness, mixed manning has to be abandoned, a case exists for the substitution of locally em- ployed civilians in all other than sea-going posts, thus further reducing the Royal Navy uniformed complement. If, as is hoped, mixed manning proves successful, the LEP Division, at a strength of approximately 285 men under a Lieutenant Commander, will continue in existence, and this re-raises the question of whether the dis- cliplinary and administrative decisions affecting men in it could or should be delegated to a superior officer below Captain rank.
16. On grounds of single Service command responsibility, inclu- ding the continuance of the LEP Division, the SRNO's appointment once the move to HMS Tamar is complete does not justify a rank higher than Commander with Lieutenant Commanders in charge of the Squadron, shore establishment branches and LEP Division respect- ively. As to the LEP Division, comparable problems in the Brigade of Gurkhas (numbering over 6,000 with 4,904 established in Hong Kong) and the Hong Kong Military Service Corps (equivalent to Royal Navy LEPS and numbering 1,001) are all handled through the normal chain of command. The Governor and Commander in Chief personally shares the above view as to the future rank of the SRNO, though he regards it as primarily a professional matter for CBF.
He is satisfied that the reduction of the rank of the SRNO to Commander would not affect the public's confidence in the squadron. On the other hand he thinks it likely that retention of the rank of Captain for so small a command would result in criticism on financial grounds under the DCA. He is prepared to answer this criticism provided he is assured that the rank is justified on professional grounds but not otherwise.
Conclusions
17. In the case of the Royal Air Force whose move from Kai Tak to Sek Kong takes place one year earlier than the move of Headquarters British Forces into HMS Tamar, a progressive reduction in the rank of the SRAFO has been achieved consistent with the rundown and re- deployment plan. This is due to culminate with the appointment of a Wing Commander to assume command of the RAF component of the garrison in Sek Kong with an overlap of some four months to ensure that any residual problems in Kai Tak are resolved independently by the Group Captain now in post.
18.
These arrangements meet the nature of the Royal Air Force tasks in Hong Kong in both the short and long term and should be confirmed.
19. Present plans for the Royal Navy envisage the replacement of the present senior Captain by a junior Captain from March 1978. Given the particular circumstances of Hong Kong and the size and role of the Royal Navy garrison, there is no Service justification on grounds of normal command responsibility for the SRNO to remain a Captain once the move of Headquarters British Forces into HMS
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