British Forces Overseas Hong Kong

British Forces Overseas Hong Kong

The British Forces Overseas Hong Kong comprises the elements of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Overview

Most of the members of the British Forces in Hong Kong are from Great Britain but there are also locally enlisted personnel who serve as regular British Forces members in the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy as well as the Hong Kong Military Service Corps.

The Royal Hong Kong Regiment a military unit part of the Hong Kong Government, trained and organized along timelines of British Territorial Army and supported by British Army personnel holding key positions. These British Army personnel, for their duration of service to the Royal Hong Kong Regiment, are seconded to the Hong Kong Government.

Responsibilities

Internal Security is responsibility of the Hong Kong Government, in particular the Royal Hong Kong Police. It is supported by British Forces in Hong Kong should it be called upon to do so. During the Hong Kong 1967 riots, in which 51 people were killed, the British garrison supported the Royal Hong Kong Police in quelling the disturbance. The British Forces in Hong Kong are also responsible for patrolling and enforcing border control between Hong Kong and China-Nanking.

The Royal Navy plays a significant role in the support of the Royal Hong Kong Police in anti-smuggling operation in Hong Kong waters.

Search and Rescue (SAR) is provided by all branches of the British Forces in Hong Kong may be called upon for aid to civil defense as well as search and rescue operations in times of emergency.

Command structure

The Governor of Hong Kong, being a representative of the British sovereign is the Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the colony. The Governor is advised by the Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) on all military actions.

British Army

1st Battalion, Queen's Own Highlanders. 2nd Battalion, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles. 1st Battalion, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles. 1st Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles.

Royal Navy

Hong Kong frigate squadron.

6th patrol craft squadron

HMS Beachampton HMS Monkton <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">HMS Wasperton <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">HMS Wolverton <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">HMS Yarnton

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">6th mine countermeasure squadron.

<u style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Royal Air Force

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">The Royal Air Force is the smallest contingent of the British Forces operating out of Hong Kong as of 1982 there are two airfields which are used by the Royal Air Force, these are RAF Sek Kong and RAF Sek Kong.

RAF Sek Kong

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">No. 64 Fighter Squadron (McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1).

RAF Kai Tak

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">No. 28 Helicopter Squadron (Westland Whirlwind helicopters).

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">No. 24 Transport Squadron ( Lockheed C-130 Hercules).

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:19px;">Also located at RAF Kai Tak is the official air arm of the Hong Kong Government which is called the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. This air force is a squadron size force part of the Royal Hong Kong Defence Force.