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RN Tasks
70. Patrol Craft. The tasks of the RN patrol craft will not change. Their primary role will be to support the Marine Police (MARPOL) in maintaining law and order within Hong Kong's sea boundaries (the Square Boundary) and demonstrating sovereignty. The deep water anti- II task also continues to play a significant part in the RN role as the new RHKP sector control (SC) launches have not been a success due to poor sea keeping qualities. As a result MARPOL's capabilities at the extremes of the square boundary are very limited. Plans are in place for further vessels to be purchased which will have an improved deep water capability. These will not be operational before 1994. Additionally, the patrol craft will continue to assist in routine peripheral tasks such as anti-smuggling operations and search and
rescue (SAR). In this
this context,
context, anti-smuggling operations are of
particular significance as this form of criminal activity brings with it the temptation for official PRC vessels to violate HK's territorial waters in order to attempt to exercise jurisdiction. High profile
confrontations between Chinese Patrol Vessels on the one hand, and
MARPOL and the RN on the other, have occurred several times.
71.
Underwater Roles.
a.
A minimal strength Clearance Diving Team remains in Hong Kong comprising a Chief Petty Officer and 2 junior ranks. Their
main tasks are:
(1)
Support to outside authorities including provision of therapeutic decompression treatment, EOD and IED clearance below the high water mark and assistance with SAR tasks.
(2) Provision of a decompression
Submiss/Subsunk.
(Under review by MOD Navy)
facility for
(3) General diving in the Theatre in support of RN,
including assisting in continuation training of ship's
divers, underwater engineering and maintenance tasks.
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