THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES
229
base of HMS Tamar maintains a recompression chamber for use in diving emergencies, and a small clearance diving team assists the police in the recovery of drugs and smuggled goods and is trained in the techniques of searching for and neutralising underwater explosives. The Captain-in-Charge also administers the naval staff in Singapore, where the Royal Navy maintains berths and an oil fuel depot.
During 1986 the Royal Navy task group Global 86 visited Hong Kong. This was one visit among many made by the group worldwide during a nine month deployment. The group comprised HM Ships Beaver, Manchester and Amazon. They were supported by Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels Fort Grange, Olmeda and Bayleaf. Others visiting included warships from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Netherlands, Sweden, France and the United States. During the year ships from the Hong Kong Squadron were deployed throughout the Far East region. The deployments are made to show a continued British interest in this vast free trade area. The countries visited were Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, South Korea and Japan. Many of these deployments included joint sea exercises and ocean training with the naval forces of countries visited.
The Hong Kong Squadron consists of five 'Peacock' Class Patrol Craft: HM Ships Peacock, Plover, Starling, Swallow and Swift. The five ships, built by Hall Russell Limited, Aberdeen, Scotland have been specially designed for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters, including search and rescue and have the ability to stay at sea during typhoons. All the vessels are of a steel and aluminium construction and are 63 metres long, 10 metres wide and have a gross tonnage of 763 tonnes.
High definition radar, direction finding equipment, an echo sounder and a very accurate gyro compass form part of the equipment that give accurate navigation through confined Hong Kong waters. Boarding tasks are usually achieved by using two rigid inflatable Avon Seariders which are widely used throughout the service. A comprehensive communications system enables the ships to talk to boarding parties and shore authorities and to send messages to any part of the world.
Under the direction of the Captain-in-Charge, a team is training to co-ordinate a scheme of control for the protection of commercial shipping using the port of Hong Kong in times of tension or war. Personnel include officers of the Royal Naval Reserve, United States Naval Reserve and the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve who are resident in Hong Kong and can be ready at short notice. The team enjoys a close liaison with the Marine Department and shipping companies.
The strength of the Royal Navy, including reinforcements, is about 670, supported by about 70 locally employed civilians. The patrol craft are jointly manned by Chinese ratings and United Kingdom naval personnel serving in Hong Kong. Altogether, about 370 locally entered personnel are employed ashore and afloat in the seaman, engineering, supply and medical branches. Manning laundries on ships of the Royal Navy is another task traditionally undertaken by Hong Kong men.
The Royal Navy plays an active part in the community and during the year personnel provided sea training for the Sea Cadet Corps and the Hong Kong Sea School, and gave assistance to the Home of Loving Faithfulness.
The Army
The Army provides the bulk of the forces in Hong Kong, under the direct command of the Commander Land Forces. Command of operational units is exercised on behalf of the Commander Land Forces by the Commander Gurkha Field Force, while logistic units, grouped as support troops, come under the Commander Support Troops.