ENG-1988 — Page 310

17

The Armed Services

BRO F1 Brand

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.

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

The Royal Navy, the British Army and the Royal Air Force are all represented in the garrison. During the year, the permanent garrison comprised three 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 squadron with eight Scout helicopters and a Royal Air Force squadron with eight Wessex helicopters. A Royal Marine Raiding Squadron, which had been present since 1980 as a reinforcement for anti-illegal immigration operations, and two Patrol Craft were with- drawn in July 1988, as the Royal Hong Kong Marine Police Force developed and improved its own capability to carry out anti-illegal immigration tasks.

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 in preventing illegal immigra- tion by land and sea. The Armed Services also provided assistance in handling the influx of Vietnamese refugees and boat people during the spring and summer months.

Throughout the year, continued emphasis on training for internal security operations and on 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 Volun- teers) – helped improve proficiency in such operations.

Hong Kong contributes towards the costs of maintaining the garrison in accordance with the Defence Costs Agreement between the Hong Kong and United Kingdom governments.

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy, based at HMS Tamar in Central District, continued to patrol the waters of Hong Kong. Its force of patrol craft acts in close support of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in deterring and apprehending illegal immigrants from China and Vietnam, and in 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 Royal Navy vessels operating within the Square Boundary and in adjacent international waters. He has responsibility for all Royal Navy forces deployed on search and rescue