ENG-1969 — Page 271

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The Armed Services and Auxiliary Services

THE British Armed Forces are stationed in Hong Kong to assist the Hong Kong Government to maintain security and stability in the Colony. All three Services are represented, under the operational command of the Commander, British Forces who, as the unified Commander in Hong Kong, is responsible to the Commander-in- Chief, Far East. The Commander British Forces is the Governor's Adviser on matters affecting the security of the Colony.

Army units predominate in Hong Kong. The land forces are part of the Far East Land Forces Command which has its head- quarters in Singapore. Royal Navy ships in Hong Kong are under the direct operational control of the Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong. They are all units of the Far East Fleet, which has its head- quarters in Singapore. The Commander, RAF, commands the RAF station at Kai Tak, and, in addition, has a squadron of Whirlwind helicopters under his command (No. 28 Squadron). This RAF support is a part of the overall backing provided by Far East Air Force, based in Singapore, which includes fighter and ground attack aircraft, operating frequently from Kai Tak.

The Auxiliary Units of the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force, the Hong Kong Regiment and the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, are administered by the Hong Kong Government, but they come under command of Commander British Forces, and his appropriate single-service subordinate commanders, for operations, and train- ing for operations.

The Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong, commands the Naval force in the Colony and Colony waters. During the year, as part of the redeployment of the Far East Fleet, the force of frigates and Mine Countermeasures vessels in Hong Kong has been reinforced by the permanent transfer to the Colony of the 6th Mine Counter- measures Squadron comprising HM Ships Maxton, Bossington, Kirkliston, Sheraton, and Hubberston.