THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
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long distance control of military aircraft approaching Hong Kong. These facilities are shared by the Director of Civil Aviation to help ensure the safety of civil aircraft operating within the Hong Kong flight information region.
No. 28 Squadron, based permanently at Kai Tak, is equipped with Whirlwind helicopters maintained primarily for the rapid movement of troops and supplies. In addition it provides a standby aircraft for search and rescue in the Colony and the near waters and assists in the evacuation of casualties from the islands and New Territories (37 service and civilian patients were airlifted to the main hospitals in the first nine months of 1969). Squadrons of the Far East Air Force continued to come to Hong Kong for training and the year saw the first visit by Vulcan strike aircraft from the United Kingdom. RAF transport aircraft activity has again increased, supplemented by training by Belfast freight air- craft from their United Kingdom base.
The continuing secure and stable situation in Hong Kong in 1969 has enabled the Armed Forces to extend their contribution of providing help of all kinds to the local community. This has varied between providing recreational activities on a large scale for the young, assistance to a number of charitable organisations for the poor and the physically handicapped, help with community proj- ects in villages, and specialised engineering works in remote areas; all making good use of the special facilities, qualifications and equipment of the Services.
The primary task of the British Armed Forces in Hong Kong remains, however, to be ready at all times to give instant support to the Hong Kong Government and the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, should this be necessary. To this end, the Services have maintained a high standard of training and alertness.
An essential part of this operational commitment is, jointly with the New Territories Administration and the Police, to ensure that stable conditions are maintained on the borders of the Colony, and that the security forces in the border area are progressively placed in a better position to meet all likely contingencies. In various ways this process has advanced steadily since 1969.
The joint police and military patrolling of remote areas, which has done much to bring the security forces in close touch with