ENG-1987 — Page 289

THE ARMED SERVICES

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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 admin- isters the naval staff in Singapore, where the Royal Navy maintains berths and an oil fuel depot.

Visitors include warships from Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, France and the United States. During the past year ships from the Hong Kong Squadron have been deployed throughout the Far East region. The deployments are made to show a continued British interest in this vast free trade area.

The Hong Kong Squadron consists of five 'Peacock' Class Patrol Craft: HM Ships Peacock, Plover, Starling, Swallow and Swift. The five ships, built by Hall Russell Limited, Aberdeen, Scotland have been specially designed for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters, including search and rescue and have the ability to stay at sea during typhoons. All the vessels are of a steel and aluminium construction and are 63 metres long, 10 metres wide and have a gross tonnage of 763 tonnes.

All the ships are armed with a single 76 mm Oto Melara gun and its associated British Aerospace fire control system. Up to four general purpose machine guns can be positioned about the upper-works. There are two, two-inch rocket launchers amidships. High definition radar, direction finding equipment, an echo sounder and a very accurate gyro compass form part of the equipment fitted to give accurate navigation through confined Hong Kong waters. Satellite navigation and long range radio aids give the ships distant sea capability. Boarding tasks are usually achieved by using two rigid inflatable Avon Seariders which are widely used throughout the service, or by fast pursuit craft. A comprehensive communications fit enables the ships not only to talk to boarding parties and shore authorities but to have the ability to send messages to any part of the world.

Under the direction of the Captain-in-Charge, a team co-ordinates 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 shipping companies and uses an advanced computer system.

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 Hong Kong Chinese ratings and United Kingdom 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. 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 provided facilities for many other organisations and charities.

The Army

The Army provides the biggest share 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 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, while logistic units, grouped as support troops, come under the Commander Support Troops.