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For normal day-to-day tasking in Hong Kong, 6 Wessex is considered an adequate
force.
If the Wessex force is reduced to 6 AE plus 2 in use reserves (IURS), it
is judged that it should always be possible to generate 6 serviceable Wessex -
when and if a contingency should arise. The Wessex force should therefore be
reduced to 6 AE and 2 IUR in 1989, in accordance with the existing CDS 7/87
planning timescale.
28. Scout Planning. The operational requirement for Scout helicopters in Hong
Kong as for Wessex helicopters is based on countering the threat of spontaneous
violence, which may occur at short notice. If an internal security threat is
not quickly controlled, the garrison must be able to demonstrate intent to
challenge Chinese intervention.
CBF's Concept of Operations provides for the
execution of both roles simultaneously. At this time the minimum force level of
Scout helicopters required to provide operational support in a contingency
situation for the parallel conduct of both roles is 6 aircraft, employed on the
tasks listed at Annex E. Due to the requirement to conduct all roles simulta-
neously, at short notice and for extended periods, MODUK supports CBFHK's judge-
ment that the availability of a minimum contingency force of 6 Scouts should be
vouchsafed until the RHKP has assumed responsibility for the whole border and
the majority of the garrison's tasks in about 1993. Subsequent further reduc-
tions will be dependent on the ability of the HKGFSD to assume a proportion of
the Scout force's operational contingency tasks at the particular timescale
under consideraton. HQBF Hong Kong have indicated their willingness to accept
the CDS 7/87 decision, now incorporated in LTC assumptions, that the reduction
of Scout helicopters from 8 AE to 6 AE should be implemented as planned in 1989
provided that the 2 aircraft withdrawn are retained in Hong Kong as reserves.
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ROW 113 (HONG)
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