TNAG-0005-FCO40-41-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 146

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Background Note for Visit of the Assistant Under-

Secretary of State. Mr. Mason to Hong Kong

in June, 1968

RAF Fighter Presence in Hong Kong

Following the Governor's meeting with the Chiefs of

Staff on 30 April the Air Force Department of the

Ministry of Defence put in hand a study on the feasibility

of a small air defence force in Hong Kong and have

produced a paper on the subject which is being submitted

to the Chiefs of Staff within the next two weeks,

The following is a summary of the conclusions in

this paper:

(1) If political considerations so dictate, a

small force of five R.A.F. Hunters could be provided for

Hong Kong from 1970 onwards,

(2) The aircraft should be flown by regular

R.A.F. pilots,

(3) A small element of R.A.F. technical personnel,

mainly in the supervisory grades, would be required to

effect liaison at the higher levels, to ensure that

R‚‚F, standards of technical practice were maintained

and to be responsible for correct technical documentation,

(4) The aircraft and aircrews would remain

the direct responsibility of the R.A.F. and the Unit would

come under the operational control of the senior R.A.F.

Officer, Hong Kong.

(5) The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Corporation

should undertake most of the servicing although

civilian/auxiliary air force tradesmen could undertake

/the

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