ENG-1980 — Page 252

THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

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such as infantrymen, military policemen, interpreters, dog-handlers, drivers, cooks, clerks, seamen and storement. The Hong Kong Military Service Corps has assumed an important role in operations against illegal immigrants and provides a valuable contribution to the garrison.

The primary roles of the army are internal security and preserving the integrity of the border - active and concurrent operational tasks carried out in support of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. All military internal security operations are directed by the Gurkha Field Force from the joint Colony Police Military Headquarters on Hong Kong Island.

The army has been fully engaged in anti-illegal immigrant operations throughout 1980, and two soldiers lost their lives as a direct result of this commitment.

Although the land border was made more difficult to infiltrate by the increased deploy- ment of surveillance devices, observation platforms and a much improved, illuminated border fence, soldiers continued to work long hours with little respite throughout the year. Much-needed relief was felt with the arrival of the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment and the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales, from the United Kingdom, and in- dividual companies from the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, from Brunei. Units were then able to take brief periods off for rest and training.

The high standard of individual training in Hong Kong-based units was once more demonstrated in the 1980 shooting competition at Bisley in the United Kingdom, an event in which all units of the British Army are eligible to compete. This was again won by the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles. Among the first seven places in the competition, six were taken by units from Hong Kong.

Royal Air Force

The headquarters of the Royal Air Force Hong Kong is at Sek Kong in the New Territories, along with the headquarters of the Gurkha Field Force. The RAF Wessex helicopters of No. 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron operate from Sek Kong airfield and are supported by engineering and administrative squadrons, a technical supply flight and an air traffic control unit, which provides a control service for all aircraft using Sek Kong airfield and an advisory service covering the whole of the New Territories.

The two additional RAF units in Hong Kong are the RAF Airport Unit located at the Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, and an RAF Provost and Security Services unit accommodated in Blackdown Barracks, San Po Kong. In addition, a number of RAF officers and NCOs serve on the joint staffs of Headquarters British Forces.

During the past year, the speed of response and the flexibility of helicopters was fully exploited by the army, Royal Navy and Royal Hong Kong Police Force units engaged in anti-illegal immigrant operations. With much of Hong Kong's territory inaccessible except by helicopter or on foot, the capability of the Wessex helicopter to carry up to 14 troops - or 1.5 tonnes of freight – made a significant contribution to the success of security forces' operations.

At year's end, the Wessex aircraft of No. 28 (AC) Squadron were still operating at their maximum sustainable rate of effort in flying reconnaissance, troop deployment, re-supply and casualty evacuation missions from dawn until dusk, seven days a week. At night, additional aircraft and staff were on standby in case of emergencies.

Despite the many duties it was called upon to perform during 1980, the squadron con- tinued to assist military and government construction projects in remote areas by carrying men and materials to the sites. An amazing assortment of items was involved, ranging from transformers and generators, to flagpoles and concrete blocks.