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British Forces Overseas Hong Kong

British Forces Overseas Hong Kong consisted of the elements of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Much of the British military left Hong Kong prior to the handover in 1997. The present article focuses mainly on the British garrison in Hong Kong in the post Second World War era. For more information concerning the British garrison during the Second World War see the Battle of Hong Kong.


Contents

Overview

Most of the members of the British Forces in Hong Kong were from Britain but there were locally enlisted personnel (LEP) who served 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 Territorial Army unit, was technically part of the Hong Kong Government and the majority of the regiment's members have been local citizens of Chinese descent.

Before, during and shortly after the Second World War, there was normally a division of land forces maintained in Hong Kong. For most of the post-war period, however, the army garrision has been reduced to a brigade of three to four infantry battalions with support and training elements.

Responsibilities

As owner of Hong Kong's sovereignty before 1997 the British government has had the political commitment to safeguard the territory against external invasions. For example, Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in WWII, defended against by the British forces.

Internal Security was the responsibility of British Forces in Hong Kong, particularly the Army, may be called upon to assist the Royal Hong Kong Police to tackle any internal security problems. For example, the Hong Kong 1967 riots, with which 51 people were killed by the leftists, were fought jointly by the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and the British Forces. Anti-illegal Immigrants (II) Operations were carried out by the British Army has been responsible for arresting illegal Chinese immigrants at the Hong Kong-Chinese border from 1970s-90s. That responsibility was passed on to the Hong Kong Police shortly before the handover.

Anti Smuggling Campaigns were conducted by the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy has played a significant role in assisting the Hong Kong Police in curbing smuggling activities in Hong Kong waters throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

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

Command Structure

The British Governor in Hong Kong, being an agent of the British sovereign, has been the British Forces' Commander-in-Chief in the colony. Nevertheless, it was unlikely that the Governor would make any decision regarding the British Forces in Hong Kong without consultations with the Commander British Forces, the Ministry of Defence as well as the Foreign Office.

The Commander British Forces (CBF), however, was the actual operational director of all military activities at the highest level. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBF was normally a career Major General or Lieutenant General.

Throughout the years of British rule in Hong Kong a variety of British Army units have spent various durations of time in the colony as resident units. Most British units were sent to Hong Kong on a rotational basis for a period of three years. The following list contains resident units only and those which have stayed in Hong Kong for short durations for re-supply or acclimatization during the Korean War, Opium War, Boxer Rebellion and the Malayan Emergency are not included.

British Army

Major units of the British Army in Hong Kong included:

Royal Armoured Corps/Cavalry

Foot Guards/Line Infantry

The drama series Spearhead and Soldier Soldier both featured fictional infantry regiments. Both saw service during the durations of each series in Hong Kong:

Royal Artillery

Others

Installations

A list of British Army installations in Hong Kong:

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy was stationed in Hong Kong from the beginning and for the most part was located in Hong Kong Island at HMS Tamar. The Prince of Wales Building was added later in the 1970s. Prior to the handover, the naval base was moved to Stonecutters Island next to the Government docks.

RN Squadrons in Hong Kong:

A list of naval facilities used or built by the RN in Hong Kong:

A list of facilities used or built by the RN in Hong Kong:

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force was the smallest contigent of the British Forces and was mainly based at RAF Sek Kong in the New Territories. The rotary wing elements left RAF Sek Kong for RAF Kai Tak and remained there until the handover. As well, Sek Kong served as a Vietnamese refugee camp for most of the 1980s.

A list of RAF Units in Hong Kong:

A list of RAF Stations in Hong Kong:

A list of RAF Operations Facilities:

Search and rescue operations conducted by the RAF and Royal Navy were later transferred to the Government Flying Service (GFS).

Other Facilities

China Fleet Club

Hong Kong became an important port of call for many naval ships passing through the Far East. Besides Lan Kwai Fong, Royal Navy sailors had their own entertainment facility called the China Fleet Club.

A timeline of the China Fleet Club:

References

Categories


Military of Hong Kong under British rule | Military of the United Kingdom | British Army deployments | Royal Navy | Royal Marines | Royal Air Force

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