XN000022-1992-04-15 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1992

DISBANDMENT OF ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT

* * * * * *

WOULD

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, ANNOUNCED TODAY

THAT THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) (WEDNESDAY) BE DISBANDED IN SEPTEMBER 1995.

THOSE

ANTI-

HONG

"BY THEN, THE ROLES CURRENTLY PERFORMED BY THE REGIMENT, OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE DURING INTERNAL SECURITY SITUATIONS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS, WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE ROYAL KONG POLICE FORCE AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE, THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE REGIMENT WILL NO LONGER EXIST," HE

EXPLAINED.

-

AND

MR ASPREY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS PAST AND PRESENT. HE SAID:

"THE

MEN AND WOMEN OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE PART OF A LONG AND PROUD TRADITION IN HONG KONG OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

:

"THEY PUT IN MANY HOURS OF TRAINING TO ENSURE THEY CAN PERFORM THEIR ROLES EFFICIENTLY AND, WHEN CALLED UPON, DO SO WILLINGLY AT

NO

SMALL COST TO THEMSELVES.

"I HOPE THAT MANY VOLUNTEERS WILL TAKE THEIR EXPERTISE TO OTHER VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG when THE REGIMENT DISBANDS. THEN I AM CONFIDENT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM THEIR UNTIL WITH THEIR USUAL DEDICATION AND EFFICIENCY.

**

ROLES

THE

RELIEVED

MR

ASSISTED ASPREY SAID IN RECENT YEARS THE REGIMENT HAD REGULAR ARMY IN ITS OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG AND HAD ANNUALLY THE REGULAR BATTALIONS ON THE LAND BORDER WITH CHINA FOR EIGHT DAYS.

THE ROYAL

REGIMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEPLOYED ON THE BORDER AFTER

THE

HONG KONG POLICE ASSUMES FULL

FOR ITS RESPONSIBILITY SECURITY FROM THE ARMY THIS MONTH.

IT WILL BE DEPLOYED TWICE A YEAR FOR A WEEK AT A TIME, STARTING IN MAY THIS YEAR.

THE REGIMENT HAD ALSO BEEN ACTIVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN PROVIDING SECURITY FOR TEMPORARY VIETNAMESE MIGRANT DETENTION CENTRES.

UP TO

MOST RECENTLY, IT SET UP AND RAN A TEMPORARY CENTRE FOR 1,700 MIGRANTS ON SHEK KWU CHAU. THIS TASK LASTED FOR FIVE MONTHS AND OVER 700 VOLUNTEERS TOOK PART IN THE OPERATION.

KONG

THE DISBANDMENT OF THE VOLUNTEERS WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF HONG IN AUGUST 1945.

I+

*OVER 280 VOLUNTEERS DIED IN THE BATTLE FOR HONG KONG IN THE REGIMENT WAS AWARDED THE BATTLE HONOUR HONG KONG' IN AND THIS

A FITTING TRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S ONLY IS

MILITARY

ASPREY SAID.

1941 1957.

FORCE,

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MR

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