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THE ARMED SERVICES
During the year the garrison played its part, with various government departments, in helping to receive and accommodate the influx of Vietnamese boat people. The western end of RAF Sek Kong was set aside for use as a temporary camp to house some 7 000 people and the Lo Wu training camp was made available to provide further accommodation. The United Kingdom battalion - the 1st Battalion, the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment – was responsible for providing initial shelter on the Soko Islands and then went on to provide the bulk of the labour force to erect marquees at Sek Kong. Gurkhas provided the manpower to dismantle the tents when Typhoon Gordon threatened and put them back up again after it had passed. At the same time Chinese, Gurkha and British person- nel of the Gurkha Transport Regiment moved the bulk of the 7 000 Vietnamese housed at Sek Kong to typhoon-proof accommodation in a joint operation with the Royal Hong Kong Police.
The Army's landing craft, helped by Royal Navy ferries, moved well over 55 000 Vietnamese to different locations while also providing a daily supply of fresh water to boat people on the Soko Islands a task often entailing up to 14 hours at sea for the Chinese and British crews.
The garrison is primarily a military fighting force and, as well as the active part it plays in the community, it has a responsibility to maintain military skills and standards. This involves a busy training programme throughout the year with combined exercises involving all three services and the Royal Hong Kong Regiment.
= -The garrison also makes a contribution to the peace and stability of the region as a whole by taking part in Five Power Defence Arrangement exercises. Hong Kong-based units also play host to detachments of the Armed Forces from some Commonwealth countries during liaison visits to the territory.
Hong Kong people contribute in many ways to the efficiency and operation of the garrison. The financial contribution is governed by the Defence Costs Agreement between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, renegotiated in terms that will last until the departure of the garrison in 1997.
Equally important is the wide range of skills that local people bring to the garrison. Hong Kong soldiers, who serve with the Army's Defence Animal Support Unit on the border, make a significant contribution to border security. This unit never leaves the border and during 1989 its dogs passed the 13 000 mark in the number of illegal immigrants caught since 1979. Hong Kong provides for the garrison many skilled drivers and cooks who have won international acclaim in their different fields. The motor cycle display team of 29 Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport, has thrilled audiences in Britain, while the Royal Navy cooks have regularly won awards at international catering competitions. Local uniformed personnel serve at sea, ashore, in offices, workshops, stores and medical centres. Local civilian staff are also a vital part of the garrison, providing skilled professional services as nurses, financial managers, executive officers, clerks, photographers and computer specialists.
Just as the community plays an important part in the garrison, the garrison itself takes an active role in community affairs. In addition to displays and open days, smaller groups of servicemen were involved during the year in over 270 projects as diverse as assistance in beach cleaning, repainting homes for the elderly, teaching handicapped children to swim and arranging a Christmas party for underprivileged youngsters.
Throughout the year 800 young people attended youth camps of one to two weeks' duration where they had a valuable opportunity to develop confidence, self reliance and team spirit. Fifteen groups of Sea Cadets spent training weekends on Stonecutters Island,