THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
187
contribution to the Summer Youth Programme. Other projects included engineering tasks such as the completion of the first part of a road from Luk Keng to Plover Cove, the rebuilding and exten- sion of the pier at Hang Hau, and the installation of electrical generators and wiring of all houses in six remote villages of the New Territories. Linked to this work are the numerous patrols which the Services carry out with the police to the isolated parts of the Colony. These visits help the Government to keep in touch with the areas and engender confidence amongst the residents.
The Armed Forces played a prominent part in two major events of the year, namely the visit of HRH the Princess Anne in October and the Festival of Hong Kong in November/December. Princess Anne is Colonel-in-Chief of the 14th/20th King's Hussars and part of her visit was spent with B Squadron stationed at Sek Kong. She also paid short visits to the RN and RAF. During the Hong Kong Festival the Armed Services contributed to the large number of displays held throughout the Colony with exhibitions of military equipment and military band performances. One of the highlights was the performance of the Falcons, the RAF's free-fall parachuting team, who descended daily from helicopters to the delight of watching crowds.
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 and jointly, with the New Territories Administration and the police, have steadily improved the arrangements for the security of the border and other critical areas of Hong Kong and its waters should an emergency arise.
LOCAL AUXILIARY DEFENCE SERVICES
In addition to the regular forces, Hong Kong has two Auxiliary Defence Units, the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. These are administered by the Hong Kong Government, but would come under command of the Commander British Forces, and his appro- priate single-service subordinate commanders for operations, if called out.
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) has a strength of about 600, and is based on Hong Kong Island. It is a light recon- naissance regiment which includes four reconnaissance squadrons, a headquarters squadron and a Home Guard squadron. A fifth