SECRET UK EYES A
LOCSEN
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
simultaneously, at short notice and for extended periods, MODUK supports CBFHK's judgement 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 reductions 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reduction of Scout helicopters from 8 UE to 6 UE should be implemented as planned in 1989, provided that the 2 aircraft withdrawn are retained in Hong Kong as reserves. A number of options for management of this force of 8 helicopters have been reviewed with the aim of preventing deterioration and ensuring the contingency availability of the 2 spare aircraft. MOD Army's preliminary recommendation was that the force should remain at a unit establishment (UE) of 8 aircraft as Director Army Air Corps (DAAC) does not support the retention of IUR aircraft at unit level without the provision of properly established funding and manpower.
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28. Scout Immediate Readiness Reserve (IRR) Trial. Currently, however, LTC provision is based on the CDS 7/87
COS49.6-17
18 LOCSEN
UK EYES A
SECRET
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