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VOLUNTEERS
Although dedicated to achieving the highest professional standards, each of Hong Kong's auxiliary defence services remains essentially a part-time volunteer force. The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) began life 118 years ago with just 99 members. Today there are almost 700 volunteers and over 40 permanent civil servant staff. Operating six armoured cars and many other vehicles, the regiment is also highly mobile. The other unit, the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, has emerged in just 23 years of service as an elite air corps that can be relied upon in any emergency. It operates a fleet of three fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters.