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This situation will entail keeping a higher level of forces
in the Colony itself. Accordingly, the Defence and Oversea
proposale Policy Committee, on 29 May, 1968, approved récommendations
that the future garrison in Hong Kong should consist of:
87
Royal Navy
Army
RAF
Lucporal
2 frigates
5 mine counter-measures vessels
1 small tanker
7 major units
6 Whirlwind helicopters (already in Hong Kong) RAF staging element
RAF signals element
A recommendation that the RAF presence should also contain
a permanent fighter element a five Hunter aircraft was likewise
approved by the Committee subject to further examination being
given to the possibility that the aircraft might be partly
manned and serviced from local resources. Separate briefing
material has been provided on this subject.
Helicopters
98. There are at present six Whirlwind helicopters on the
10
strength of the Hong Kong Garrison. In January, the Commander
British Forces, Hong Kong, reported through the Commander-in-
Chief, Far East, that after one year's experience of support
helicopters in Hong Kong, a simultaneous platoon lift was
essential to meet internal security and other operational
tasks; and that the force of six Whirlwinds had achieved only
50% availability during the year, representing a simultaneous
lift of only half a platoon and sometimes less. In forwarding
Commander, British Forces', Report, the Commander-in-Chief, Far
East, strongly recommended that the Whirlwind helicopters should
be replaced by six RAF Wessex helicopters.
The Ministry of Defence have stated that there is no possi-
bility of making Wessex helicopters available since they are all
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