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THE ARMED SERVICES
THE
year 1994 witnessed a large-scale drawdown of the British forces in the territory and the closure of a number of bases.
Following the announcement in July 1993 that the size of the garrison would be reduced from 8 700 to just over 3 000 personnel by January 1, 1995, the remaining United Kingdom- based infantry battalion, the 1st Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), left Hong Kong in August 1994 and the Stanley Fort infantry barracks was handed back to the Hong Kong Government.
The 10th Gurkha Rifles, who re-formed as the 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles on July 1, returned to the UK and were replaced by the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles (formed by the amalgamation of the 2nd and 6th Gurkha Rifles). Their former base at Gallipoli Lines in the New Territories and Perowne Barracks at Tuen Mun, formerly the regimental headquarters of the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, reverted to the government.
After being concentrated in Asia, since their transfer from the British Indian Army in 1948, the core of the Brigade of Gurkhas moved to the United Kingdom in 1994. Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas, which arrived in Hong Kong from Malaysia in 1971, transferred in November and the Brigade Training Depot moved in December. The passing- out parade of the last Gurkha recruits to be trained in Hong Kong was attended by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.
The 660 Squadron Army Air Corps, which operated Scout helicopters, and 415 Maritime Troop Royal Logistic Corps, which operated three landing craft, disbanded during the year. The disbandment parade of the maritime troop was attended by Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps.
In April, the Hong Kong Logistic Support Regiment was formed, as a result of the drawdown of British force levels and the need to concentrate the remaining logistic expertise under a single command structure. The 500-strong unit which will retain its present structure and role until 1997 consists of a transport squadron, a supply squadron, a food supply squadron, a postal and courier troop and an accommodation services unit, as well as headquarters staff.
In June, the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group reached agreement on the future use of the defence estate in the territory, after seven years of discussions. (For further details, see Chapter 4.)
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