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THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
areas, and its speed and flexibility have been significant in the success of the security forces' operations.
Although illegal immigration has been substantially reduced across the land border, a number of illegal immigrants still attempt to enter Hong Kong in speedboats. These clandestine activities, which are normally carried out at night, are countered by combined operations involving surface vessels and Wessex helicopters. The Wessex uses its 65 million candle-power Nightsun to illuminate the area, assisting in the capture of the speedboat and occupants by surface vessels. The flying is demanding and involves considerable time on stand-by at night, waiting for call out.
Throughout the year, one Wessex was available during normal working hours, at 15 minutes stand-by, for casualty evacuation duties. Additionally, RAF aircraft are always available day and night for support of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force in its search and rescue role. During the dry season, the RAF provides fire-fighting assistance in areas inaccessible to normal fire appliances: the Wessex can carry a suspended bucket containing 1 000 kilograms of water for release over a fire.
In addition to its operational tasks, No. 28 (AC) Squadron provides training and support for the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and has assisted with a number of community service projects including the removal of abandoned vehicles from remote areas, trans- porting young people to camps in the New Territories on government sponsored holidays, and the provision of air experience flights for a large proportion of the Air Scouts and Air Cadet Corps of Hong Kong.
Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) is a light reconnaissance regiment made up of part-time volunteers. Its role, though primarily one of internal security, also includes reconnaissance, anti-illegal immigration operations and assistance to other government departments in the event of natural disasters. It is administered and financed by the Hong Kong Government, but if called out it is commanded by the Commander British Forces.
The regiment has an establishment of 946 volunteers and 54 permanent staff including nine service personnel on loan from the British Army. The volunteers come from all walks of life and are of various nationalities. But over 95 per cent are Chinese.
The regiment is composed of four reconnaissance squadrons, a home guard squadron and a headquarters squadron. In addition, a women's troop was established in 1983 and expanded to 52 members in 1984 to provide supporting services in internal security and anti-illegal immigration operations as searchers and interpreters. A guard troop of 12 members was established in 1983 to look after the general security of the regimental headquarters. There is also a junior leaders' corps of 300 boys, aged from 14 to 17, trained in youth activities and leadership. As part of the youth activities geared to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, a junior leaders' band was formed in 1984 to give performances at youth functions. The response to recruiting campaigns has been enthusiastic. A highly selective intake of 119 recruits joined the volunteers in 1985 following a successful campaign which attracted over 1 900 applications.
The regiment's headquarters are located in the busy residential area of Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, where the volunteers have been based since 1950. The regiment does not have a training camp of its own and has to share the training facilities of the British Army in Hong Kong. Active planning was underway in 1985 to establish a training camp at Lin Fa Shan, Tsuen Wan.