LOCAL FORCES AND CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICES
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the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. In August legislation was enacted to disband the joint Defence Force Headquarters. Each major unit is now fully independent and corresponds direct with Government and with its regular parent Service.
The Hong Kong Royal Naval Reserve mans and operates two inshore minesweepers. These vessels are on loan from the Admiralty, but are operated and maintained at Government expense. Apart from their normal training the Royal Naval Reserve have provided invaluable assistance in the combined Police and Services operations to counter illegal immigration.
The Hong Kong Regiment is a reconnaissance regiment com- prising a headquarters, an intelligence platoon, a home guard company, two reconnaissance squadrons and an infantry company. In addition to the normal weapons of an infantry unit the Regiment has six 'Ferret' armoured scout cars to assist in its re- connaissance role. A successful recruiting campaign was carried out during the year.
The Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force is equipped with Auster aircraft and two Westland Widgeon helicopters. These helicopters again had a busy year, being used extensively by Government officers as well as providing a regular flying doctor service to remote districts of the New Territories and carrying out individual rescue operations.
There are also two women's services: the Hong Kong Women's Royal Naval Reserve and the Hong Kong Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Owing to recent re-organization within the RAF, the Women's Auxiliary Air Force had no further operational role and the unit was accordingly disbanded with effect from October. Its members were given the opportunity of transferring to one of the other auxiliary defence units.
Volunteer service in Hong Kong began with the formation on 30th May 1854, of the Hong Kong Volunteers. In 1878 they were renamed the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps and in 1917 the Hong Kong Defence Corps. In 1920 the title was again changed to the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. The Corps was mobilized, about 1,400 strong, to meet the Japanese attack on the Colony on 8th December 1941 and fought with the regular forces against overwhelming odds until ordered to surrender on 25th December 1941. In 1956 their action was vividly recalled when part of the