ENG-1987 — Page 283

17

The Armed Services

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THE Armed Services operate in Hong Kong under the overall command of the Commander British Forces, who advises the Governor on matters affecting the security of Hong Kong and who is also responsible to the Chief of Defence Staff in London. The Armed Services are stationed in the territory primarily to assist the government in maintaining security and stability and to sustain confidence in the United Kingdom's stated commitment to Hong Kong.

The Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force are all represented. During the year,

the permanent garrison comprised five Royal Navy patrol craft, one United Kingdom and three Gurkha infantry battalions, a Gurkha engineer regiment, a Gurkha signals regiment, a Gurkha transport regiment, an Army Air Corps helicopter squadron with eight Scout helicopters and a Royal Air Force squadron with eight Wessex helicopters. A Royal Marine raiding squadron has also been present since 1980 as a reinforcement for anti-illegal immigration operations.

Hong Kong also has its own locally enlisted regiment of part-time volunteer soldiers, the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers).

Hong Kong contributes towards the costs of maintaining the garrison in accordance with the Defence Cost Agreement between the Hong Kong and United Kingdom governments. The influx of illegal immigrants is a continuing problem and it has been necessary for all three services to concentrate a significant part of their effort on the task of preventing illegal immigration by land and sea.

Throughout the year, there was continued emphasis on training for internal security operations and combined exercises - involving the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) - helped improve proficiency in such operations. The armed services also provided assistance in handling the influx of ex-China Vietnamese illegal immigrants during the summer months.

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy, based at HMS Tamar in Central District, continued to patrol the waters of Hong Kong. Its force of five patrol craft, and fast pursuit craft of the Third Raiding Squadron, Royal Marines, acted in close support of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in deterring and apprehending illegal immigrants from China, and conducting operations against smugglers and others who illegally infringe territorial waters.

The Captain-in-Charge Hong Kong has responsibility for the operational control of the Hong Kong Sea Area of Interest which extends to 91 kilometres from Kowloon Clock Tower. He has responsibility for all Royal Navy forces deployed on search and rescue operations in the South China Sea and works closely with the Director of Marine and the