15
The Armed Services and Auxiliary Services
THE British Armed Forces are stationed in Hong Kong to assist the Hong Kong Government in maintaining security and stability in the Colony. All three Services are represented and are under the com- mand of the Commander British Forces, who in April 1970 became responsible to the Chief of the Defence Staff in London instead of to the Commander in Chief Far East. The Commander British Forces is the Governor's Adviser on matters affecting the security of the Colony.
Army units predominate in Hong Kong, and are under the direct command of the Commander British Forces, who has the additional appointment of General Officer Commanding, Land Forces. Royal Navy ships in Hong Kong are under the direct operational control of the Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong. The Commander, RAF, commands the RAF station at Kai Tak, and, in addition, has under command a squadron of Whirlwind helicopters (No. 28 Squadron). This RAF support is a part of the overall backing provided by Far East Air Force, based in Singapore.
The local Auxiliary Defence Units, consisting of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment and the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, are administered by the Hong Kong Government, but they come under command of Commander British Forces, and his appropriate single-service subordinate commanders, for operations and training for operations.
HMS Tamar, headquarters of the Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong, is the base of the 6th Mine Countermeasures Squadron and also provides full maintenance facilities and support for ships of the Far East Fleet and Commonwealth Navies which regularly visit Hong Kong. It remains a very popular port for ship visits and provides excellent facilities for relaxation after operational patrols and exercises.