15
The Armed Services and Auxiliary Services
和三
輔軍
隊助
THE Armed Services operate in Hong Kong under the overall command of the Commander British Forces, who advises the Governor on matters affecting the security of Hong Kong and who is also responsible to the Chief of Defence Staff in London. The Armed Services are stationed here primarily to assist the government in maintaining security and stability and to sustain confidence in the United Kingdom's stated commitment to Hong Kong.
The Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force are all represented in Hong Kong. The garrison comprises five Royal Navy patrol craft, a naval tug, one United King- dom and three Gurkha infantry battalions, a Gurkha engineer regiment, a Gurkha signals regiment, a Gurkha transport regiment, one Army helicopter squadron equipped with nine Scout helicopters and one Royal Air Force squadron with eight Wessex helicopters.
The size and composition of the garrison, and the contribution Hong Kong makes to- wards the cost of keeping it here, are determined by a Defence Costs Agreement between the Hong Kong and United Kingdom governments. With the continuing pressure of illegal immigration from China and the increase in Hong Kong's population, a new agreement was negotiated, to run for seven years from April 1, 1981, to allow for the garrison to be increased by one infantry battalion, a Royal Marines Raiding Squadron and four Scout helicopters. The extra battalion will be Gurkha in the first instance but will eventually be replaced by a UK battalion. Reinforcements will also be available when appropriate and necessary.
The Royal Marines Raiding Squadron and the additional Scout helicopters have been in Hong Kong throughout the year, as reinforcements for employment on anti-illegal immi- gration duties. Two Royal Navy hovercraft have also been here throughout the period.
With the ending of the 'reached base' policy in October 1980, the flow of illegal immi- grants was much reduced, although it continues to be necessary for all three services to con- centrate much of their effort on the task of preventing illegal immigration by land and sea.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy in Hong Kong, based at HMS Tamar, is fully involved in deterring and apprehending illegal immigrants from China, intercepting refugees from Vietnam and, increasingly in 1981, in conducting operations against smugglers. Working in close association with the Royal Hong Kong Police and the other services, the Royal Navy force of five patrol craft, a naval tug, two hovercraft, and a raiding squadron of the Royal Marines has maintained constant patrols of Hong Kong waters with the main effort concentrated at night. The hovercraft and raiding squadron have been particularly effective against the development of sophisticated methods of illegal entry by sea.
Because of the maritime importance of Hong Kong, the role of the Royal Navy cannot be restricted only to that of countering illegal immigration. The Captain-in-Charge has