XN000022-1984-05-13 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 13, 1984

VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE

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THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, MAJOR-GENERAL DEREK BOORMAN, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) HAD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND IT WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAINTAINING STABILITY.

HE TOLD THE VOLUNTEERS AFTER INSPECTING A PASSING-OUT PARADE IN THE REGIMENT'S HEADQUARTERS IN HAPPY VALLEY THAT THE REGIMENT'S ROLE +IS IMPORTANT AND WILL STAY THAT WAY+ IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

+ IT IS MOST ESSENTIAL TO US TO HAVE YOU ALONGSIDE THE BRITISH GARRISON, GIVING WONDERFUL SUPPORT THAT YOU DO, SAID MAJOR-GENERAL BOORMAN.

HE PRAISED THE VOLUNTEERS FOR GIVING UP THEIR OWN TIME +TO SERVE EACH OTHER, TO SERVE THE REGIMENT, AND TO SERVE HONG KONG.+

+THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY OFFER EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

+AND I BELIEVE

+YOU HAVE A FUTURE, SAID THE MAJOR-GENERAL, YOU WOULD DISCHARGE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN A MOST MARVELLOUS FASHION.+

A TOTAL OF 82 RECRUITS TOOK PART IN THE PARADE. THIRTY-ONE OF THEM ARE WOMEN VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE UP THE FIRST GROUP OF FEMALE RECRUITS IN THE REGIMENT SINCE THE WOMEN'S CORPS WAS DISBANDED IN 1967.

SELECTED FROM ABOUT 1 500 APPLICANTS, THEY JOINED THE REGIMENT IN NOVEMBER 1983 AND RECEIVED TRAINING OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS ON WEAPON HANDLING, SHOOTING, MAP READING, BATTLE CRAFT, RADIO OPERATION, FIRST AID AND DRILL.

THE 1 000-STRONG REGIMENT IS ESSENTIALLY A PART-TIME VOLUNTEER FORCE. OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS GEARED ITSELF PRINCIPALLY FOR INTERNAL SECURITY AND RECONNAISSANCE A ROLE FOR WHICH ITS BILINGUAL MEMBERS ARE WELL SUITED, WITH THEIR SPECIAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT, LOCAL CONDITIONS AND CUSTOMS.

FOUNDED MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR INTERNAL DUTIES. UNITS OF THE REGIMENT WERE DEPLOYED DURING THE 1966 RIOTS AND IT WAS AGAIN CALLED OUT IN 1979 TO ASSIST THE CIVIL POWERS OVER THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE ALSO BEEN DEPLOYED TO RELIEVE THE REGULAR ARMY ON THE BORDER. THEY WILL DO SO AGAIN THIS AUTUMN.

/AT TODAY'S