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The Armed Services and Auxiliary Services
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THE British Army, Navy and Royal Air Force are all represented in Hong Kong and are under the command of the Commander British Forces.
Lieutenant General, Sir Richard Ward, was succeeded as Commander British Forces by Lieutenant General E. N. W. Bramall on December 1, 1973.
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The Commander British Forces advises the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, on matters affecting the security of Hong Kong and is responsible to the Chief of Defence Staff in London. The Armed Forces are stationed in Hong Kong to assist the government in maintaining security and stability.
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Army units predominate, and are under the direct command of the Commander British Forces, who has the additional appointment of Commander Land Forces. Royal Navy ships are under the direct operational control of the Commodore-in- Charge, Hong Kong (headquarters at HMS Tamar). The Commander Royal Air Force commands the Royal Air Force station at Kai Tak and associated units, in- cluding No. 28 Squadron which is equipped with Wessex helicopters.
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The Commodore-in-Charge, Commodore J. A. G. Evans, commands the Naval Force in Hong Kong and its waters. During the year, the frigate HMS Chichester arrived to become the permanent Hong Kong guardship, and joined supporting patrol craft, HM Ships, Wasperton, Monkton, Beachampton, Wolverton and Yarnton to form the Hong Kong Squadron.
HM Canadian Ships Kootenay and Terra Nova visited Hong Kong during the summer. They were followed in the autumn by a squadron from the Royal Malaysian Navy. Hong Kong also received a visit from Rear Admiral Clayton in the cruiser HMS Tiger which was accompanied by frigates HMS Rhyl and HMAS Yarra, the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Tidespring, Tidereach and Regent, and the submarine HMS Dreadnought.
Following naval reductions in Singapore, HMS Tamar's role as the remaining naval shore establishment in the Far East has become even more important. HMS Tamar provides essential services to the Hong Kong Squadron, to all Royal Navy ships stationed in the Far East, as well as to Commonwealth warships visiting for maintenance and recreation.
HMS Tamar employs about 700 Chinese naval ratings in various fields, including cooks, stewards, technicians and seamen. Four hundred of the cooks and stewards are serving worldwide in operational ships of the fleet. Laundering, tailoring, shoe- making and hairdressing facilities are provided for the fleet by 310 Chinese seagoing