(DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE)
9 December 1975]
Mr R J ANDREW, Mr J M PARKIN, Mr WG MANN, Captain T H BRADBURY, RN, and Group Captain F D G CLARK
That is one of the major reasons for having the garrison there and our Naval presence in the waters off Hong Kong as well as our presence on land and in the air is part of the British Govern- ment's commitment to
to Hong Kong, which is an important factor in pre- serving the stability and confidence to which the Minister of State referred at the beginning of this afternoon's session.
I
46. You mentioned two classes of ship, the Bird and Tenacity classes. Has your attention been drawn to a letter in The Times this week about an Azteca patrol vessel?—I saw it in The Times myself, and I feel sure this is something which will be taken into consideration. believe it is intended we should set up a joint working party between ourselves and the Hong Kong Government to study the question of what would be the most appropriate vessel to replace the patrol craft when the time comes.
Mr Conlan
47. If you are thinking in terms of £2 to £5 million for the replacement of these patrol boats, would this not be a grave and inappropriate waste of public money, whether it be Hong Kong money or UK money, when, in fact, the role is, and is likely to continue to be, the apprehension of illegal immigrants?· This would be a role which has to be done. It is not only the illegal immi- grants. The Royal Navy assists the marine police but it also assists the other Hong Kong Government Agencies, such as the Narcotics Bureau and the Pre- ventive Service, and I think there is a role to be played there. Whether this be done by the Navy or by the marine police alone is a point for debate; but certainly there is a role to be done and, therefore, vessels will have to be pro- vided to do that role.
48. At a low cost?--Even police launches are becoming fairly expensive. -No.
49. But not too sophisticated?- If we were to go for some of the sug- gestions which have been made the cost would be even higher; but the cost will be very much in the minds of the Hong Kong Government, particularly if by that time they are paying 75 per cent of the bill; and when we come to discuss it
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in the working party I am sure financial considerations will carry great weight in the eventual choice of craft.
Mr Finsberg
50. I would not like the record to show that I was advocating the type of action which should be done by the maritime police to the detriment of the Navy or the Armed Forces. What I was trying to establish is that apparently the Navy does not find this is a normal job of work. Of course, I agree in the special circumstances it would be wrong to upset the diplomatic balance between China and Great Britain. Now on the Wessex, we were given to understand that the Wessex helicopters are not being flown sufficiently, that is to say that the pilots feel they are not getting enough training and enough use out of the Wessex. We were also told that the Wessex is particularly susceptible to cor- rosion from sand and other elements?
On the first point, I think it is a common feeling on the part of pilots in the Services worldwide that they would like to fly more than they are able to do. As far as I am aware, there are no restrictions on the flying of helicopters in Hong Kong other than the world- wide restrictions. Certain limitations are placed on the amount an aircraft will be used, both for operational reasons and for economy in the use of fuel, spare parts and so on; but I am not aware of any particular restrictions which apply especially to Hong Kong. (Group Captain Clark.) They are worldwide re- strictions and they do represent a valu- able rationalisation of flying effort.
Chairman
51. Hong Kong is not the easiest type of helicopter flying with the hills and so on? No, Sir, it is difficult terrain with the climate, when the clouds are low over the hills, but to this extent the helicopter is particularly suitable for operating in these conditions and pro- vides a very valuable and high degree of mobility to exploit the gaps in the hills. (Mr. Andrew.) On the second point of corrosion, I am not a techncal expert but the position as I understand it is this. The Wessex is by modern standards a comparatively old type of helicopter and the design makes considerable use of magnesium alloy, which I believe is par-
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