TNAG-0687-FCO40-836-Disturbances-by-police-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 95

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POLICE AND MILITARY STRENGTHS

6.

Since 1967 the Royal Hong Kong Police has been steadily expanding, modernising and re-equipping. The Force now has an establishment of 15,000

5 policemen and currently has the support of 5,000 auxiliary policemer. companies of the Polics Tactical Unit (PTU) are immediately available, at all times, for Internal Security duties. One of these is attached to Island District and 2 are attached to Kowloon District. The remaining 2 companies are in training and all 5 companies form the Commissioner of Police's Reserve. After re-organising into its Internal Security structure the Force can also field 23 District Headquarters and Divisional Internal Security Companies although this means reduction in watch and ward capability.

7.

With ite 4/3 battalion equivalents the Army can deploy 20 Internal

At Security company equivalents in support of the Royal Hong Kong Police. least 3 of these are likely to be tied to Border operations; the distribution of the remainder between Island, Kowloon and New Terroritories Districts will depend on the nature of the situation that develops.

8.

The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (the Volunteers) can provide 3 recon- naissance squadrons and one infantry squadron when called out. The role of the regiment was extensively reviewed in 1974/75, and this led to a reorgan isation and re-equipment programme which was designed to enable the volunteers In an Internal Security to operate more effectively with the Security Forces. situation one reconnaissance squadron would probably be attached to each of the Island, Kowloon and New Territories battalions, whilst the infantry squadron is earmarked to reinforce Kai Tak Division.

The

9.

A contingency plan exists to provide 2 battalions and a squadron of

This force the Royal Air Force Regiment as reinforcements to Hong Kong. comprises 2 tactical Headquarters and 10 Internal Security companies. Gurkha battalion in Brunei with its 5 Internal Security companies, is earmark- ed for this role and could arrive very quickly after Her Majesty's Government agreed to activate the reinforcement plan. The Units from United Kingdom would take longer to arrive, and would need time to acclimatize and familiarize themselves before becoming heavily involved in operations. They should, there- fore, be seen as reliefs rather than immediate reinforcements. Also, sit- uations, initially of low intensity, might arise which would not merit the early activation of a reinforcement plan; any assessment of the respective roles of the Police and the Army should therefore be based on the resident strengths available in Hong Kong, rather than on a reinforced Garrison.

POLICE CAPABILITY

10.

All ranks in the Royal Hong Kong Police are trained in riot control duties. When the Force is recrganised in its pre-planned Internal Security Etructure, 5 Police Tactical Unit companies are immediately available and these would be reinforced by 4 District Headquarters companies after a short preparatory period. The Divisional Internal Security companies would take some houre to settle into their Internal Security posture and shift system so that the Royal Hong Kong Police would rely heavily on the 9 Police Tactical Unit and Dietrich Headquarters companies at the start of an Internal Security situation. The Royal Hong Kong Police are better equipped to control crowds than the military, using CS smoke from the onset followed by, or in conjunc- tion with, baton shells. Shotguns and high velocity rifles are available, with the Police Internal Security Platoons, for use in an emergency.

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