TNAG-1938-FCO40-2764-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 114

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final handover on 30 Jun 97. The size and scale of Army supporting arms and

services is to be directly related to the roles and operational requirements of

the remaining garrison at all stages during the rundown.

48. Navy. The RN's tasks will be assumed gradually by MARPOL. There is at

present no cause to change the judgement in CDS 7/87 that there would be a con-

tinuing requirement for 3 PC to remain operational in Hong Kong waters at least

until MARPOL's second batch of 3 improved capability SC vessels have assumed

resonsibility for the RN's anti-II role forecast as not before 1991. Subject

to the development of HKG's own services and facilities, RN diving,

recompression and underwater EOD teams are unlikely to be withdrawn before

1992/3; HQBFHK is to determine with HKG during 1989, a timescale

transfer of the RN's underwater roles to MARPOL.

for the

49. RAF and AAC. The current requirement to undertake a simultaneous helilift

of half an infantry company calls for a force of 6 Wessex. The light helicopter

force for the present garrison requires 6 Scouts. 28 Sqn RAF and 660 Sqn AAC

both have an AE of 8 aircraft. Subject to approval by COS in Feb 89, Wessex

force levels are planned to reduce to 6 AE and 2 IUR aircraft, and the Sqn

establishment will be reduced appropriately, by end 1989. 660 Sqn AAC will

retain aircraft and manpower to support a Scout force level of 6 UE and 2 IRRS

for a 6 month trial period, also subject to COS approval. If the trial proves

the feasibility and cost effectiveness of the IRR concept, this management

arrangement should be adopted formally from end 1989; if not, it is proposed

that the Scout force level should remain at 8 UE. Either solution will require

revision of existing LTC provisions. [Once the RHKP have assumed responsibility

for the whole border and the majority of the military tasks (from about 1993),

ROW 113 (HONG)

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