TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 31

CONFIDENT IAL

8.

In fulfilling these roles, the Hong Kong Squadron provides a deterrent

by maintaining continous patrols; undertakes surveillance and boarding and

searching operations to prevent illegal immigration, arms and drug smuggling;

and provides reinforcement in internal security incidents at sea which have

escalated beyond the capability of the Royal Hong Kong Marine Police to

handle on their own.

9. These roles can be undertaken by relatively cheap, simple vessels; to

contemplate any widening of the role for exaple, to resist determined

incursion into Hong Kong waters by units of the CCN - would create the

need for a Squad:on of an entirely different order of size, capability and

sophistication, and should therefore be discounted. The roles, as stated

in para 7 above, would appear to be likely to continue unchanged for the

forseeable future.

TYPE OF REPLACEMENT

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10.

The nature of the role, and many years experience of operating the

Hong Kong Squadron, indicates a minimum requirement for one vessel to be

on patrol in the Colony's waters at all times, or to be at not more than 2

hours' notice. This argues the need for a Squadron comprising several

vessels.

11. The waters around the Colony include many shallow or restricted areas

where the effectiveness of a frigate-size vessel is reduced. While a single

frigate solution can probably be ruled out because of the limitations on

its availability, the requirement can be satisfied by a Squadron composed

of smaller vessels, or of a mix of frigates and smaller vessels.

12.

In their preparatory work towards the Naval Staff Target, the Naval

Staff are considering the possibilities of a Squadron composed of 1 Frigate

4 CONFIDENTIAL