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b. The present position is that the HKG has assumed responsibility for all diving tasks associated with SAR, and
other government agencies are now able either to field their own
divers or use contract divers for most assignments. There
remain, however, 2 areas in which support to the HKG will be
required for the immediate future:
(1)
Decompression Chamber. The only decompression chamber
in Hong Kong is located in HMS TAMAR and is operated by the
Clearance Diving Team. The HKG Department of Health has
been tasked with assuming this role and it is their intention to accept responsibility for the task by the time
the RN is relocated to Stonecutters' Island in 1992.
c.
(2) EOD and IED Clearance below the High Water Mark. A
team from the RHKP has started training in UK on above water
EOD tasks. It is planned that sufficient RHKP teams will
be trained to enable this task to be assumed by the end of
1992 with training on underwater EOD below the high water
mark being completed by the end of 1993.
It is recommended that the Clearance Diving Team should
remain unaltered until 1993 when it is hoped that both the EOD
and decompression chamber tasks will be handed over to the HKG.
Thereafter, depending on the Submiss/Subsunk review there will
be no requirement for the team to remain in Hong Kong.
72. Supporting Commitments. In light of the fact that the patrol
craft will now be run on to 1997, with the attendant requirement to
maintain a naval base, little or no decrease in RN manpower or other
supporting commitments to the remainder of the Garrison is likely to
take place until the final months. The move to Stonecutters' Island
is currently being staffed in detail, and to date no savings can be
identified in medical, catering, security, ferry services or any other
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