HTT
ROYAL NAVY
29. Tasks. The Royal Navy makes its contribution in Hong Kong and in Hong Kong waters at three different levels:
a.
It provides a very visible and tangible part of the British presence which indicates the UK's determination This to maintain the freedom of the seas in this area. particularly applies to the guardship which only recently became a permanent part of the Hong Kong Garrison. Prior to that it was provided on rotation from the UK.
It supports the Marine Police in routine and internal security duties in coastal waters.
D.
C.
It provides, in coastal waters, a deterrent against any erosion of the Hong Kong Government's authority in the same way that Army battalions provide this along the land border.
d.
It provides a degree of support for groups of ships of the Fleet and British merchantmen operating from the UK and into Far East waters.
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30.
Guardship. This provides the main contribution to the Royal Navy's presence role, and it acts as a local deterrent it places the onus in that, by "upping the ante to come in" for any significant hostile action fairly on the other side. The withdrawal of the guardship, although not impossible, because the role could be met in part by the patrol craft, would leave us unable to match the Chinese gunboats which It would also be locally frequently enter Colony waters. unpopular and be taken as a significant change in force levels. In terms of local expenditure, for docking, work on essential defects and for assisted maintenance periods, HMS CHICHESTER's projected expenditure in Hong Kong is estimated to amount to
Should it be approximately £36,000 per year until 1978. decided to extend her hull life beyond 1978, an extended re-fit in Hong Kong could be very roughly estimated at £1M at 1974 prices (4))
31.
f
Patrol Craft. The five patrol craft are the minimum needed to give early and effective assistance and reinforcement to the four Marine Police divisions. If, however, it is accepted that one of the Marine Police divisions can be denied this support then a force level of four patrol craft could be considered as a viable force. Subject to the other tasks allocated to the Guardship, it might be possible for her to
There would take over the missing' Patrol Craft's role. nevertheless be restrictions on her ability to fulfil this role due to her size and her draught vis-a-viz some of the
This would also have to be shallow waters of the Colony.
Two of the balanced against escalation considerations.
(4) These figures relate specifically to HMS CHICHESTER and take no account of costs of RN manpower (UK and LEP), stores items provided from the UK, provisions, protective clothing, fuel and other indirect support costs eg Fleet Maintenance Group support, Married Quarters, Medical and Welfare services. Further exclusions include contingencies for catastrophic breakdown and unskilled ship husbandry,
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