ENG-1970 — Page 242

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THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

The minehunters of 6th Mine Countermeasures Squadron, HM Ships Maxton, Bossington, Kirkliston, Sheraton and Hubberston, adopted the symbolic Chinese Dragon as their squadron badge to mark their association with Hong Kong, and this is now displayed on each ship. Two of the ships companies were official visitors to the Hong Kong Pavilion at Expo '70. The Squadron's day to day naval tasks include practising the latest minehunting techniques, which are the most sophisticated of any Navy in the world, and underwater searching exercises, for example tracing sunken vessels or aircraft. In addition the ships, together with many other visiting ships, contribute men and materials to install or improve recreational and domestic facilities for the local inhabitants of isolated villages and islands in Hong Kong waters.

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The year has seen a great number of vessels visiting the base, including the recently converted Helicopter Cruiser HMS Blake, the Commando Carrier HMS Bulwark, the Assault Ships HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid, together with Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and warships from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, France, India and Portugal.

HMS Tamar recruits and trains Hong Kong Chinese Ratings for service in Tamar and with the Western and Far East Fleets, and is also the agency for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, which operates world wide.

Under command of Headquarters Land Forces, there are two Army formations, 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, which has its head- quarters at Sek Kong in the New Territories, and 51 Infantry Brigade which commands units both in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, and which has its headquarters in Kowloon. Headquarters Land Forces is at Victoria Barracks on Hong Kong Island.

During 1970, the Major General, Brigade of Gurkhas, moved from Malaysia to Hong Kong and is now based permanently at Victoria Barracks with Headquarters, Brigade of Gurkhas.

Throughout 1970, units of the Army have taken their turn in the joint police and military patrolling and manning of the defensive positions in the Border area. In addition, they have trained and exercised in their military skills, for example operating tanks and artillery and the use of infantry weapons and techniques.