ENG-1984 — Page 294

THE ARMED SERVICES AND AUXILIARY SERVICES

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The Captain-in-Charge Hong Kong has responsibility for the operational control of the Hong Kong Sea Defence Area which extends to 91 kilometres. He has responsibility for all Royal Naval forces deployed on search and rescue operations in the South China Sea and works closely with the Director of Marine and the Director of Civil Aviation. The naval base of HMS Tamar maintains a recompression chamber for use in diving emergencies and a small clearance diving team assists the police in the recovery of drugs and smuggled goods and is trained in the techniques of searching for and neutralising underwater explosives. The Captain-in-Charge also administers the naval staff in Singapore, where the Royal Navy maintains berths and an oil fuel depot.

HM Ships Rothesay and Aurora and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Regent, Appleleaf and Sir Percivale visited Hong Kong during 1984. Warships from the United States, Malaysia, India, Canada and Australia visited the base and ships of the Hong Kong Squadron called at ports in Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore during ocean training deployments.

Under the direction of the Captain-in-Charge, a team is training to co-ordinate a scheme of control for the protection of commercial shipping using the Port of Hong Kong in times of tension or war. Personnel include officers of the Royal Naval Reserve, United States Naval Reserve and the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve who are resident in Hong Kong and can be ready at short notice. The team enjoys a close liaison with the Marine Department and the shipping companies.

The strength of the Royal Navy, including reinforcements, is about 670, supported by about 70 locally employed civilians. The patrol craft are jointly manned by Chinese ratings and UK naval personnel serving in Hong Kong. Altogether, about 370 locally entered personnel are employed ashore and afloat in the seaman, engineering, supply and medical branches. A further 300 locally recruited merchant seamen serve world-wide on board ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. Manning laundries on ships of the Royal Navy is another task traditionally undertaken by Hong Kong men.

The Royal Navy plays an active part in the community and during the year personnel provided sea training for the Sea Cadet Corps and the Hong Kong Sea School, and gave assistance to the Home of Loving Faithfulness, the Cheshire Home at Chung Hom Kok and the Chong Hing Water Sports Centre.

The first two of the new patrol craft for the Hong Kong Squadron arrived in Hong Kong in November. This class of five ships will replace the present ageing "Ton' class. The 'Peacocks', as they are known, have been specially designed for service in Hong Kong waters and have several innovations in patrol'craft design.

The Army

The Army represents the bulk of the forces in Hong Kong under the direct command of the Commander Land Forces. Command of operational units is exercised on behalf of the Commander Land Forces by the Commander Gurkha Field Force, while logistic units, grouped as support troops, come under the Commander Support Troops.

During 1984, the 1st Battalion the Scots Guards was replaced by the 1st Battalion the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, and the 1st Battalion 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) was replaced by the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles. Resident throughout the year were the 2nd Battalion 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles and the 1st and 2nd Battalions 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Gurkha Rifles.

Support is provided by a number of units permanently based in Hong Kong. These include the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Gurkha Signals, the Gurkha Transport