Mo2 1246/671
아
of 6 Ap
4
C
si o'ted by Hong Kong and 7 GR and that until TTB becomes the formal successor to the resident unit, no more can be done at present. Establishment action for a formal TTB is in hand.
'A' MATTERS
1
16. The only point I would like to make here is that units in Hong Kong expect six months in each year on unaccompanied duties. The combination of border duties, training in Brunei and overseas exercises means a much higher level of separation than is generally recognised. This particularly applies to the British Bn at Stanley which is a long way by road from the border.
EQUIPMENT MATTERS
17. IS Radio. Already covered. I believe that our order for Hong Kong requirements should be placed as soon as possible.
18. EOD. Already covered. Up to date equipment must be available in Hong Kong to enable ATO's to be properly trained.
19. Detection and Search. GSOR 10 has this in hand. Both the police and Army need the best available equipment. that dogs could enhance this capability and HQ BFHK will make proposals.
20.
I consider
Surveillance. Already covered. As manpower is reduced so modern devices could considerably help with the border task.
21.
Larkspur Radio. Both in Hong Kong and Brunei a 22%. 28% rate of A41s awaiting spares was reported. This I know is an Army wide problem and will discuss this with SO in C.
22. It was suggested that there was a need for secure speech network for IS because teleprinter links got overloaded. Consideration should be given to the issue of BID 150 once they were released with the arrival of CLANSMAN in BAOR.
23. Shotguns. This is more a political/tactical matter than pure equipment though there may have to be some provision. Unlike the traditional IS scenario, the police and Army work in parallel in a crowd control situation, therefore the escalation of response should be seen to be the same. The police have authority to escalate without special authority to the use of the shotgun which is considered very effective and does not cause fatal casualties. The feeling in Hong Kong is that the Army should be similarly armed and have the same authority and that undoubtedly this would be infinitely preferable to the use of the SLR. I pointed out the difficulties of getting ministerial clearance for this philosophy but I believe it would be better to give some attention to it now rather than during a crisis situation. The Chinese understand the shotgun philosophy but would never understand the accidential death of the third in line of an SLR bullet. HQ BFHK are preparing a case on this issue.
24. CR SPAD is available and carried in Hong Kong. The police
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SECRET
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