From: Captain T L SUNTER Royal Navy
TAMAX
120/11X
The Right Honourable Lord Shackleton KG FRS
11 Grosvenor Crescent
London
SWIX 7EE
Dece
Sharkleten,
The Captain-in-Charge Hong Kong
HMS TAMAR BFPO 1
Tel: 8024680 or F3700
10 December 1992
Locally Employed Personel (LEPS) are Chinese Hong Kong personnel who serve in the Royal Navy both ashore and afloat in all ranks from AB to Warrant Officer. The UK Government has made the arbitrary decision to restrict passport issue to about one in every seven applicants as is the case with other Hong Kong local residents.
The passport issue is obviously a very sensitive one, however, we do know that many of our people who have given years of loyal service to the Crown have not been successful and I feel strongly that a special case should be made to rectify this situation. I have verbally represented this to the First Sea Lord and I understand that the Governor and the Secretary of State for Defence discussed the matter earlier this month. However I am not optimistic.
The history of the LEP Division is long and loyal. They served in the last century although it was not until 1905 that they first wore uniform and were properly engaged by the Admiralty. During the First World War the numbers increased. However, in the Second World War they were all discharged. Some were imprisoned in POW camps, many went to the Mainland some continuing the battle and a few joined the British Aid Group which eventually had its HQ in Cheung Kin from where it continued to assist refugees from the security of the Nationalist seat of Government. After the re-occupation of Hong Kong, most pre- war LEP reported for duty and in 1940 over 2000 were serving. Until 1974, LEP served in Royal Navy Ships in many parts of the world but the Defence Review of that year restricted their role to the immediate policing and defence of Hong Kong. Currently there are 296. LEP serving in HMS TAMAR and the three ships of the Hong Kong Squadron.
It is normal for LEP to serve for at least 22 years before being discharged with a lump sum gratuity. They do not receive a pension. Recruiting has, until now, been buoyant and as recently as 1988 when retention of Service personnel in the UK was a major problem (the mid-90's demographic trough was perceived as being a real threat to recruitment) arrangements were actively being considered to transfer LEPS directly across to the Royal Navy. The changes in Eastern Europe and the current run down of the Armed Forces put a halt to these plans.