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6. The police regularly use certain of our 25/30 metre ranges and a Training Theatre. During the last 12 months they have used our long ranges (300 metres +) on 16 days and would have used them more were we ourselves not short of range time.
7. We do not fully understand the reasoning of attempting to sell the project to Ministers on the grounds that it is a modernisation scheme. An approach based on arguments that, the proposed complex is a recent technical development ideally suited to the needs of the Hong Kong Garrison whose primary role is IS operations, would we feel, be more realistic. We view the complex as a specialised aid for our specialised role and do not envisage it in any way reducing our requirement for conventional ranges. These we will still need to maintain our all round capability. There is certainly no question in our minds of anything being given up in compensation other than those items already included in the Lyemun and Shamshuipo package.
8.
The suitable sites we have found for an IS complex all lie within the boundaries of Castle Peak Range. Legislation covering this range preclude firing at weekends and Chinese public holidays. Initial enquiries have revealed the possibility of introducing procedural amendments which might allow an IS complex to be used at least at weekends. Confirmation of such amendments will require delicate negotiation which would be premature at this stage.
9. Through a process of discussion with potential users our exact requirement is becoming clearer. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a complex such as Ballykinler would be unnecessarily sophisticated and inflexible for our current needs. Our current thinking is that an Urban Dry Training Area, incorporating either or both an Urban CQB or Marksman- ship Under Fire Range, would be better suited to our needs. The fundamental problem remains that without expert advice we do not know what is possible with present technology.
отвени
DA BETLEY
Lieutenant Colonel
for Commander
Distribution:
External:
External:
Information:
Action:
MOD:
MOD (AT1c)
Head of DS6
BGS (MO)
DOR 3(A)
DDAQ
Headquarters Gurkha Field Force
Internal:
Information:
Q Qtg
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CONFIDENTIAL