TNAG-0061-FCO40-97-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 13

I

SECRET

22.

Arrangement. Scheme A envisages the following:

a.

b.

Normally, a five day working week.

ANNEX A TO

CINCFE 3031/6130/12 Dated 24th September 1968

A RAF element, including six pilots, supervisory technicians and armament tradesmen.

C. A HKAAF element consisting of permanent staff.

d.

Support backing, including bay support, from RAF Kai Tak (with manpower assistance from the Hunter unit).

e Second-line servicing by HAEC.

•

f. First-line servicing within the Hunter unit.

Second-Line Servicing.

23. There is no doubt about the technical competency of HAEC to carry out second-line servicing of Hunters: the Company would adjust its technical training programme to cover those Hunter aspects with which the staff are presently unfamiliar. However, it is considered that HAEC should not undertake any servicing of armament, weapons, safety equipment, or SIF, for the following

reasons:

a. HAEC employees are not trained or experienced in the high and strict safety standards for armanent and weapons demanded in the RAF.

b. Remembering the very crude nature of the bombs exploded during recent disturbances, it would be most unwise to introduce explosives expertise among the local employees, or to give them access to explosive stores.

C.

First-line servicing of Hunter safety equipment requires only one man on an intermittent basis and the total service could be provided from the existing establishment at RAF Kai Tak.

Certain aspects of SIF are classified. This equipment could be serviced in the Air Radio Section of RAF Kai Tak.

24 It is estimated that during a year there would be sevon arisings, of which 1.5 would be major servicing.

First-Line Servicing

25. For the Hunter unit to undertake the first-line servicing (including bays support), as well as the second line servicing of armament/weapons, it has been assessed that 39 technicians would be required, and that:

a. 19 of those posts could be filled by permanent staff of the HKAAF.

b.

The remaining 20 posts consisting of supervisory and armamont personnel must be filled by qualified RAF tradesmen.

26, Colony officials considered that permanent staff of the HKAAF could be entrusted with armament servicing. However, from a RAF point of view and for reasons similar to those given in 23b, it is considered that all armament servicing should be undertaken by RAF personnel. Furthermore, there are at present no HKAAF armament trained personnel and it would take sone years to train recruits to even junior technician standard.

A-5

SECRET

/Hunter