ENG-1983 — Page 257

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THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

1268 Chinese officers and men who serve throughout Hong Kong as guards, military policemen, interpreters, dog-handlers, drivers, cooks, clerks, seamen and storemen. The Hong Kong Military Service Corps provides a valuable contribution to the garrison and has played an important role in operations against illegal immigrants.

The primary role of the army is to support the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in maintaining internal security; it is also responsible for preserving the integrity of the border. In recent years the major task has been to help with the control of illegal immigration, with individual battalions spending an average of three months a year on border duties. Despite the significant reduction in the number of illegal immigrants attempting to gain entry to Hong Kong, a high level of border vigilance was maintained. throughout the year. Improvements to border security are constantly being made and anti-illegal immigration operations continue to play a major part in the daily life of the army.

With space and training resources limited in Hong Kong, overseas exercises for units are essential in maintaining high standards, and 1983 saw exercises take place in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. In addition, a command and control exercise in Hong Kong involved the government and the police, as well as the British Forces. The high standard of individual training in Hong Kong-based units was again demonstrated in competition with the rest of the British Army at the 1983 shooting meeting at Bisley in England: of the first three places in the competition, two were taken by Gurkha units in service in Hong Kong. Some distinguished guests visited Hong Kong units during the year, including Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne, who visited the Queen's Gurkha Signal Regiment in April.

Royal Air Force

The headquarters of the Royal Air Force Hong Kong is at Sek Kong in the New Territories. The No. 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron operates eight Wessex helicopters from Sek Kong airfield with support by engineering and administrative squadrons. Included in the supporting element is an air traffic control unit, which also provides an advisory control service outside Hong Kong International Airport airspace. Movement of military personnel and cargo by air from Hong Kong International Airport is controlled by the RAF Airport Unit based at Kai Tak, whilst the RAF Provost and Security Services Unit is located at Blackdown Barracks, San Po Kong! Additionally, RAF personnel serve on the staff of Headquarters British Forces.

The Wessex helicopters are employed in direct support of the army and can carry up to 14 troops or 1 400 kilograms of freight anywhere within Hong Kong. The helicopter is the only practicable way of moving troops, rations and equipment to outlying areas, and its speed and flexibility have been significant factors in the success of the security forces' operations.

Although illegal immigration has been substantially reduced across the land border, significant numbers still attempt to enter Hong Kong in speedboats. These clandestine operations, which are normally carried out at night, are countered by combined operations involving surface vessels and Wessex helicopters. The Wessex uses its 65 million candle- power nightsun to illuminate the area and disorientate the speedboat driver, enabling capture by surface vessels. The flying is demanding and involves considerable time on standby at night waiting for call out.

During the year, one helicopter was available for search and rescue duties throughout the normal working day and, on a monthly rotational basis with the Royal Hong Kong