TNAG-0083-FCO40-119-Police-Adviser-s-reports-1968 — Page 39

CONFIDENTIAL

This will be As far as is known

in use at present in order to retain initiative and an element of surprise vis-a-vis riotous mobs and terrorists. examined when I visit Washington mid-November. all agents of British manufacture are available to and in current use by the Hong Kong Police.

(3) Frontier Force

It had been proposed that the formation of a Field Force for duty on the Chire se frontier be considered to replace military units at present deployed between Lok Ma Chau and Sha Tau Kok. This has been the subject of a feasibility study by the Police and the following conclusions were reached:-

(1) Maintaining the integrity of the Frontier is, inescapably,

a military commitment;

(2) The Police Force is neither trained nor equipped for

nilitary operations and compelling reasons exist why this should be so;

(3) Police on the frontier in a military role would provide a

less effective deterrent than that provided by soldiers.

It

This problem was discussed at length with Your Excellency, the Acting Colonial Secretary and the Commander, British Forces, and it was agreed that a period of 18 nonths would probably be required to establish, train, rganise and deploy a Police Field Force. would also necessitate a very substantial expansion of the Police Force which could only be justified if Frontier control in the military sense becane a permanent Police commitment. It was agreed that, when conditions permit it, the Police should resume deployment on the frontier, that frontier Police Stations and posts should be fortified so as to be defensible, that police contingents on the frontier should be "up-armed" (i.e. Bren guns, self-loading rifles, X etc.) and that the Army should be stationed in close support of the

police. Details of this alternative scheme to the establishment of a Police Field Force will be submitted by the Commissioner of Police in consultation with Commander, British Forces, to Government.

(4) Force Expansion

The Commissioner of Police envisages progressive expansion on a phased basis to meet increasing commitments. No special expansion is planned. The projected expansion of the Force is as follows:-

CONFIDENTIAL

/Establishment