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THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1989
GOVERNOR VISITS VOLUNTEERS AT THE BORDER
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SPENT THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON VISITING MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT ON THEIR ANNUAL BORDER PATROL EXERCISE.
THE VOLUNTEERS, A PART-TIME SECURITY FORCE MADE UP OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS, HAVE TAKEN OVER FROM THE REGULAR ARMY THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR GUARDING THE BORDER THIS WEEK.
MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT, WHO COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, HAVE BEEN PERFORMING BORDER DUTY SINCE 1980.
THE GOVERNOR WAS BRIEFED ON THE VOLUNTEERS' BORDER OPERATION BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRISTOPHER PATEY, AT THE SHA TAU KOK MILITARY OPERATIONS ROOM.
SIR DAVID ALSO VISITED THE VOLUNTEERS OBSERVATION POSTS ALONG THE BORDER AND SAW THEIR BOAT TROOP IN ACTION AT TSIM BEI TSUI IN YUEN LONG.
THE VISIT TOOK THE GOVERNOR ACROSS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BORDER WHERE HE MET AND SPOKE TO SOME OF THE 500 PART-TIME SOLDIERS WHO INCLUDE BANKERS, LAWYERS, ARCHITECTS, OFFICE WORKERS AND DRIVERS.
SIR DAVID WAS TOLD THAT THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED HAD BEEN DECREASING SINCE LAST YEAR. NEVERTHELESS THE BORDER SECURITY FORCES, INCLUDING THE VOLUNTEERS, REMAINED FULLY ALERT TO A RESURGENCE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AT ANY TIME.
IN 1988, THE VOLUNTEERS CAPTURED 55 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DURING THEIR WEEK ON THE BORDER. THE CAPTURE RATE WAS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE REGULAR BATTALIONS.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT IN ADDITION TO THEIR BORDER DUTIES, THE VOLUNTEERS HAD HELPED IN THE RECEPTION AND CARE OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, AND ALSO TOOK PART IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CHARITABLE AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES.
HE SAID THAT THE VOLUNTEERS MADE A VERY IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY COMMENDABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR UNSELFISH SACRIFICE ON THEIR OWN TIME AND COMFORT TO UNDERTAKE THE DEMANDING TASK OF MANNING THE BORDER.
"HONG KONG CAN BE PROUD OF ITS VOLUNTEERS, HE ADDED.
EMPLOYERS'
CARRY
SIR DAVID WAS ALSO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR GENEROSITY IN ALLOWING TIME OFF FROM WORK FOR THE VOLUNTEERS TO OUT THEIR DUTIES.
/THE GOVERNOR