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THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
and the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. The RNR and Regiment also have small women's units.
The Hong Kong Volunteers were first raised for the protection of the Colony in 1854 during the Crimean War. 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 until ordered to surrender on 25th December. Decorations were conferred upon 15 members of the Corps for their gallantry in battle and for later escapes from Japanese prison camps, while 18 were mentioned in despatches. After the war, the Corps was recon- stituted as the Hong Kong Defence Force, and was granted the title 'Royal' in 1951 and the battle honour 'Hong Kong' in 1957. This honour is now emblazoned on the Regimental Colour.
The Hong Kong Royal Naval Reserve and Women's Naval Reserve have a strength of 190. Their role is to man and operate two inshore minesweepers, HMS Cardinham and Etchingham, which are on loan from the Royal Navy and berthed at HMS Tamar but maintained by the Hong Kong Government. At the end of the year, in view of the increasing cost of maintaining the minesweepers, and the impracticability of replacing them, the decision was reluctantly taken to disband the unit with effect from 1st April 1967.
The Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) has a strength of about 600. It is a reconnaissance and internal security regiment organized into a headquarters
headquarters squadron, three reconnaissance squadrons (one equipped with Ferret scout cars) an assault company, home guard company and Women's Auxiliary Army Corps company. The regiment is fully mobile, and its role is to operate in support of the regular army battalions stationed in the Colony, with tasks that make special use of the Volunteers' detailed knowledge of the Colony and its people. During the year the Volunteers took part in one full-scale five-day exercise and a number of smaller exercises with the regular army.
The Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, with a strength of 80, operates two Alouette helicopters and two Auster aircraft. Its primary role is internal security and training is directed towards efficient co-operation with the police and regular army in this role. However, its aircraft, particularly the helicopters, are widely used from day to day for a variety of purposes such as casualty