XN000022-1983-03-22 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983

HIGH CALIBRE WOMEN VOLUNTEERS WANTED

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THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) IS LOOKING FOR 15 INTELLIGENT AND MATURE GIRLS OF EXTREMELY HIGH CALIBRE, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF CHARACTER, INITIATIVE AND KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, TO JOIN THE REGIMENT.

THEY WILL BE TRAINED TO BECOME THE NUCLEUS OF A WOMEN'S TROOP ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING SERVICES TO THE GURKHA FIELD FORCE IN INTERNAL SECURITY AND ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATIONS.

THE WOMEN +VOLUNTEERS+ RECRUITMENT DRIVE, WHICH STARTED TODAY (TUESDAY), IS THE FIRST SINCE THE LATE 1960'S WHEN THE FORMER WOMEN'S CORPS WAS DISBANDED FOLLOWING A CHANGE OF ROLE FOR THE REGIMENT.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AT SPORTS ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, HONG KONG, COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS BY APRIL 6, 1983 AT THE LATEST, ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 5-7962038.

ANNOUNCING THE RECRUITMENT DRIVE AT A PRESS BRIEFING THIS AFTERNOON, THE REGIMENT'S COMMANDING OFFICER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL MIKE BARNEBY SAID +THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF HAVING FEMALE VOLUNTEERS. BEFORE THE STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF THE REGIMENT WAS ALTERED IN THE LATE 1960S, WE HAD GIRLS AS NURSES, CLERKS AND SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEERS IS TO SUPPORT THE POLICE IN THE EVENT OF ANY INTERNAL DISORDERS AND IN PREVENTING THE ENTRY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

+IN BOTH THESE TASKS,+ LT. COLONEL BARNEBY SAID, +SECURITY FORCES ARE LIABLE TO COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND, BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED NUMBER OF POLICEWOMEN LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR FEMALE VOLUNTEERS AS SEARCHERS AND INTERPRETERS.+

THE PROPOSAL TO RECRUIT A LIMITED NUMBER OF GIRLS INTO THE REGIMENT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS HAS RECEIVED THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE HEADQUARTERS BRITISH FORCES AND THE APPROVAL OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

FEMALE VOLUNTEERS MAY BE REQUIRED TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY OR IN SMALL GROUPS. PERFORMING SPECIALIST TASKS. BECAUSE OF SUCH REQUIREMENTS. THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR FEMALE VOLUNTEERS ARE MORE STRINGENT THAN THOSE FOR THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.

APPLICANTS MUST BASICALLY HAVE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG AND HAVE THEIR EMPLOYERS' CONSENT BEFORE JOINING THE REGIMENT.

THEY SHOULD

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