THE ARMED SERVICES
which British forces are normally equipped. As a result, some exercises are held overseas in order to maintain a high standard of military skills.
In an operation that made headlines around the world, Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong co-ordinated the search and rescue efforts for five missing members of a British Army adventure training expedition, which included three Hong Kong Military Service Corps soldiers, lost in Low's Gulley on Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia.
In February, the Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Plover rescued 13 survivors from a stricken ship which ran aground on a reef at Pratas Island, 160 miles southeast of Hong Kong.
The Garrison and the Community
The garrison contributes to the well-being of the wider community in many ways. Apart from the high-profile events which highlight the garrison's presence, there is much behind- the-scenes activity which largely goes unreported.
When a typhoon threatens, the garrison automatically moves to a higher state of alert. Emergency communications are set up and troops placed on standby for any tasks they may be given. The troops are backed up by a wide range of equipment and supplies held in disaster relief stores.
Local people bring a wide variety of skills to the garrison, either in uniform as members of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps or the Chinese Division of the Royal Navy, or as civilians in a wide range of jobs. Apart from supplying essential translation skills, they are to be found working as seamen, engineers, drivers, medical orderlies, teachers, secretaries, book-keepers, military police, guards, dog-handlers, signallers or mechanics.
As the garrison draws down, of necessity the number of Chinese personnel, both military and civilian, will be reduced. The future welfare of these employees is of paramount concern and there are extensive resettlement and retraining programmes to assist the garrison's Chinese employees to find employment once their service with the garrison is no longer required.
In 1994, the Hong Kong Locally Engaged Personnel Welfare Trust was officially launched. The aim of the trust is to provide assistance to any Hong Kong ex-servicemen, and their dependants, who find themselves in hardship, distress or poverty. The trust is run by a board of military and civilian trustees and will come into effect on July 1, 1997.
Just as the community plays an important part in the life of the garrison, the garrison itself takes an active role in the lives of local communities. In addition to participation in displays and open days enjoyed by thousands of people, smaller groups of servicemen and women and their families support a wide variety of charities and involve themselves in projects concerning the young, the elderly and the disabled. In the 12 months to October 1994, the garrison was directly involved in raising a total of over $12 million for charity.
Every year, the Queen's Gurkha Signals organise Trailwalker, when 2 500 enthusiasts either walk or run the length of the MacLehose Trail to raise funds for charity. Although the maximum number of entrants was reached some years ago, the popularity of this event increases year by year, with over $10 million currently being raised per annum. A third of the sum raised by Trailwalker is donated to the Gurkha Welfare trust to provide welfare and other facilities in Nepal and to support former Gurkha soldiers and their families. Over the years, nearly $12 million has been raised for the trust. In 1993, a new record for the Trailwalker course, which includes four major and a number of minor climbs (exceeding in
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