British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
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British Forces Overseas Hong Kong comprised the elements of the
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
,
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
(including Royal Marines) and
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
stationed in British Hong Kong. The
Governor of Hong Kong The governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Crown in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1997. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. ...
also assumed the position of the commander-in-chief of the forces and the
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) was a senior British Army officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong and was in charge of the Hong Kong British Forces. The officeholder of this post concurrently assumed the ...
took charge of the daily deployment of the troops. Much of the British military left prior to the
handover of Hong Kong Sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China (PRC) at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the former colony. Hong Kong was established as a special admini ...
to China 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 and earlier, see the Battle of Hong Kong.


Overview

Prior to and during the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
, the garrison was composed of British Army battalions and locally enlisted personnel (LEPs) who served as regular members in the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy or the
Hong Kong Military Service Corps The Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) (Traditional Chinese: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see British Forces Overseas Hong Kong). Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has ...
and their associate land units. The
Hong Kong Brigade Hong may refer to: Places *Høng, a town in Denmark *Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China *Hong, Nigeria *Hong River in China and Vietnam *Lake Hong in China Surnames *Hong (Chinese name) *Hong (Korean name) Organiz ...
served as the main garrison formation. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the garrison was reinforced with British Indian Army and
Canadian Army The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also res ...
units. A second brigade, the Kowloon Infantry Brigade, was formed to assist in commanding the expanded force. The garrison was defeated during the Battle of Hong Kong, by the
Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of Japan, 1947 constitu ...
. After the Second World War and the end of the
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong The Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began when the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the British Crown colony of Hong Kong to the Empire of Japan on 25 December 1941. The surrender occurred after 18 days of fierce ...
, the British military reestablished a presence. As a result of the
Chinese Civil War The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
, the British Army raised the 40th Infantry Division and dispatched it to garrison Hong Kong. It latter left for combat in the
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, and the defense of the territory was taken up by additional British forces who were rotated from Europe. The garrison was further supplemented by LEPs, and
Gurkha The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent, Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India. The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Go ...
s. The latter came from Nepal, but formed part of the British Army. The size of the garrison during the Cold War fluctuated and ended up being based around one brigade. The
Royal Hong Kong Regiment The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
, a military unit which was part of the Hong Kong Government, was trained and organised along the lines of a British Territorial Army unit. As such, it was supported by British Army regular personnel holding key positions. These British Army personnel, for their duration of service to the Royal Hong Kong Regiment, were seconded to the Hong Kong Government. In the post-WWII era, the majority of the regiment's members were local citizens of Chinese descent.


Responsibilities

Before 1 July 1997, the British government had the political commitment to safeguard the territory against external and internal threats. Commonwealth forces were also deployed to station in the territory shortly before the Second World War. The greatest test was in 1941, when Japanese forces invaded Hong Kong, leading to the 44-month-long
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong The Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began when the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the British Crown colony of Hong Kong to the Empire of Japan on 25 December 1941. The surrender occurred after 18 days of fierce ...
. Internal Security was the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government, in particular the
Royal Hong Kong Police The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
. It was supported by British Forces in Hong Kong should it be called upon to do so. During the
Hong Kong 1967 riots The 1967 Hong Kong riots were large-scale anti-government riots that occurred in Hong Kong during British colonial rule. Beginning as a minor labour dispute, the demonstrations eventually escalated into protests against the British colonial g ...
, in which 51 people were killed, the British garrison supported the Royal Hong Kong Police in quelling the disturbance. Until 1995, the safety of much of the Sino-Hong Kong border was the responsibility of the British forces and as such contributed greatly to the interdiction of illegal immigrants (II). As the preparation of the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, that responsibility was passed on to the
Hong Kong Police The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
. The
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
played a significant role in the support of the Royal Hong Kong Police in anti smuggling operation in Hong Kong waters, especially in the heyday of seaborne smuggling during the mid-1980s to mid-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. Prior to 1990–1991, British Forces (
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
) was responsible for patrolling and enforcing border control between Hong Kong and China. This role was passed on the
Hong Kong Police Force The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
years before the handover in 1997. The territory has nevertheless maintained a
Government Flying Service The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined unit and paramilitary flying organisation of the Government of Hong Kong. The service has its head office in, and operates from, the southwestern end of Hong Kong International Airport at ...
, formerly the
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the Uni ...
, that is responsible for search and rescue operations, air ambulance services, and other air services for the Hong Kong Government. The GFS also took over some responsibilities from the Royal Air Force and the Army Air Corps. The
Hong Kong Police Force The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
also has a highly trained and equipped counter terrorism unit, the
Special Duties Unit The Special Duties Unit (SDU; ), nicknamed the "Flying Tigers" (), is the elite tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force tasked with countering terrorist attacks, hostage rescue, underwater search and recovery, and tackling serious crime i ...
, trained by United Kingdom's SAS and SBS, and a Marine Police force. These forces have been heavily armed since before the handover in 1997, and are within the portfolio of the
Secretary for Security The Secretary for Security is the member of the Government of Hong Kong in charge of the Security Bureau, which is responsible for public safety, security, and immigration matters. The post was created in 1973 and since the Principal Offic ...
(which, before 1973, was named Secretary for Defence). The Fire Service Department also took over some diving rescue responsibilities from the British Forces Overseas. The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) was disbanded in 1995 prior to the handover in 1997. It was funded by and was a branch of the Hong Kong Government, yet under command of the Commander British Forces.


Structure in 1989


Command structure

The
Governor of Hong Kong The governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Crown in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1997. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. ...
, being a representative of the British sovereign, was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the colony. The Governor was advised by the
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) was a senior British Army officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong and was in charge of the Hong Kong British Forces. The officeholder of this post concurrently assumed the ...
(CBF) on all military actions. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBF was normally a career Major General or Lieutenant General from the British Army. Until 1966, the CBF was an ex-officio member of the Legislative Council. Throughout the years of British rule in Hong Kong, a variety of
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
units spent various periods of time in the colony as resident units. In latter stages of the post-war period, British army 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 stayed in Hong Kong for short durations for re-supply or acclimatisation during the
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
,
Opium War The First Opium War (), also known as the Opium War or the Anglo-Sino War was a series of military engagements fought between Britain and the Qing dynasty of China between 1839 and 1842. The immediate issue was the Chinese enforcement of the ...
, Boxer Rebellion and the Malayan Emergency are not included in the list. The majority of infantry battalions were Ghurkas who were permanently based in Hong Kong after Indian partition.


British Army formations

Major formations of the
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
in Hong Kong included:


Second World War

* Headquarters,
China Command China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
(1939) - covered British military interests in: Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tientsin. ** Hong Kong Infantry Brigade (This was the primary British garrison in Hong Kong prior to and during the Second World War) ** Kowloon Infantry Brigade (This brigade was formed in 1941 after the garrison was reinforced) **
C Force "C" Force was the Canadian military contingent involved in the Battle of Hong Kong, in December 1941. Members of the force were the first Canadian soldiers to see action in World War II. The major Canadian units involved in the defence of Hon ...
- Canadian Army's reinforcement under British Command during the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941.


Cold War

* 40th Division (reformed in 1949, dispatched to Korea in 1950) ** 26th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (1948–1950) ** 27th Infantry Brigade (circa 1949) ** 28th Infantry Brigade (arrived in Hong Kong in 1949) * 51st Infantry Brigade (established circa 1950, disbanded 1976) * 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (1957–1976; renamed Gurkha Field Force 1976–97; returned to old title 1987-ca.1992)


British Army units


Royal Armoured Corps

* C Squadron,
The Royal Scots Greys (2 Dragoons) The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) to form the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The regiment's history began in 167 ...
, 19-09-1962–not known. *
1st Royal Tank Regiment The 1st Royal Tank Regiment (1 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps and operationally under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade. History Formation The regime ...
(1957–1960)''(C Sqn 1974–1976)'' *
3rd Royal Tank Regiment The 3rd Royal Tank Regiment (3 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army in existence from 1917 until 1992. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It originally saw action as C Battalion, Tank C ...
(1949-1950) *
7th Royal Tank Regiment The 7th Royal Tank Regiment (7th RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army from 1917 until disbandment in 1959. History The 7th Royal Tank Regiment was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. The regi ...
(1952-1954) * 4th Hussars (1950) * 7th Hussars (1954-1957) *
16th/5th Lancers The 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 16th The Queen's Lancers and the 5th Royal Irish Lancers in 1922. The reason for the uniquely atypical regimental title (wi ...
(A Sqn 1963–1964) (C Sqn 1973–1975) *
14th/20th King's Hussars The 14th/20th King's Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was created by the amalgamation of the 14th King's Hussars and the 20th Hussars in 1922 and, after service in the Second World War, it amalgamated with the Royal Hussa ...
(1970–73) *
17th/21st Lancers The 17th/21st Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in England by the amalgamation of the 17th Lancers and the 21st Lancers in 1922 and, after service in the Second World War, it amalgamated with the 16th/5th The Quee ...
(Dec 1959–1960; C Sqn 1961–1962) * B Squadron, Life Guards (1967)


Infantry

*
28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot The 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1694. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot to form the Gloucestershire R ...
(circa late 1870s) * 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot (circa 1878) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Irish line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1968. The regiment was formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment o ...
(1881–1883; 1947–1948) * 1st Battalion,
King's Shropshire Light Infantry The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in the Childers Reforms of 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. It served in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. In 19 ...
(1892–1894) * 2nd Battalion,
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders or 79th (The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1793. It amalgamated with the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Al ...
(1908–09) * 2nd Battalion,
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1959. The regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms, by the merger of the 32nd (Cornwall Light ...
(1914) * 2nd Battalion,
Middlesex Regiment The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers R ...
(1917–18) * 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment (1923–26) * 2nd Battalion,
Scots Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the E ...
(1926–28) * 2nd Battalion,
King's Own Scottish Borderers The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's O ...
(1926–1930) * 1st Battalion,
King's Own Scottish Borderers The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's O ...
(1949-1951, May to August 1965) * 1st Battalion,
South Wales Borderers The South Wales Borderers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for 280 years. It came into existence in England in 1689, as Sir Edward Dering's Regiment of Foot, and afterwards had a variety of names and headquarters. I ...
(1930–1934; 1963–1966) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Lincolnshire Regiment The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army raised on 20 June 1685 as the Earl of Bath's Regiment for its first Colonel, John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath. In 1751, it was numbered like most other Army regiments ...
(1932–36) * 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (1937–38) * 1st Battalion,
Middlesex Regiment The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers R ...
(1937–1941; 1949–1950; 1951–1952) * 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) (1938–41) * 1st Battalion,
Devonshire Regiment The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...
(1947) * 1st Battalion,
King's Shropshire Light Infantry The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in the Childers Reforms of 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. It served in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. In 19 ...
(1949-1951) * 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (1949-1950, Fan Ling) * 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) (1949–50; 1951–52; 1979) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Leicestershire Regiment The Leicestershire Regiment (Royal Leicestershire Regiment after 1946) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, with a history going back to 1688. The regiment saw service for three centuries, in numerous wars and conflicts such as both ...
, (1949-1951, Norwegian Farm Camp) * 1st Battalion,
South Staffordshire Regiment The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for only 68 years. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot an ...
, (1949-1951) * 1st Battalion,
Wiltshire Regiment The Wiltshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh's (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot. The ...
(1950–52) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Raised in 1674 as one of three 'English' units in the Dutch Anglo-Scots Brigade, it accompanied William III to England in the November 1688 Glorious Revolution an ...
(1951-1952; 1960–1962) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Ulster Rifles The Royal Irish Rifles (became the Royal Ulster Rifles from 1 January 1921) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, first created in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot and the 86th (Royal County D ...
(1951-1954) * 1st Battalion,
Dorset Regiment The Dorset Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958, being the county regiment of Dorset. Until 1951, it was formally called the Dorsetshire Regiment, although usually known as "The Dorsets". In 1 ...
(1952-1954) * 1st Battalion, The
Welch Regiment The Welch Regiment (or "The Welch", an archaic spelling of "Welsh") was an infantry regiment of the line of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of ...
(1952-1954; 1966–1968) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Norfolk Regiment The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...
(1952-1953, Norwegian Farm Camp) * 1st Battalion,
King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army. It served under various titles and fought in many wars and conflicts, including both the First and the Second World Wars, from 1680 to 1959. In 1959, the r ...
(1954-1956, Beas Stable Camp) * 1st Battalion,
North Staffordshire Regiment The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, which was in existence between 1881 and 1959. The 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot was created on 21 April 1758 from the 2nd Battalio ...
(1954-1957) * 1st Battalion,
Essex Regiment The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...
(1954-1957, Dodswell Ridge Camp) * 1st Battalion,
The Northamptonshire Regiment The Northamptonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1960. In 1960, it was amalgamated with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment to form the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's O ...
(1954-1957) * 1st Battalion, The
Green Howards The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), frequently known as the Yorkshire Regiment until the 1920s, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division. Raised in 1688, it served under vario ...
(1956–1959) * 1st Battalion,
East Lancashire Regiment The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot and 59th (2nd Nottingh ...
(1957-1958, amalgamated with The South Lancashire Regiment in HK to form The Lancashire Regiment.) * 1st Battalion,
South Lancashire Regiment The South Lancashire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment, which recruited, as its title suggests, primarily from the South Lancashire area, was created as part of the Childers Re ...
(1958, amalgamated with The East Lancashire Regiment in HK to form The Lancashire Regiment.) * 1st Battalion, Lancashire Regiment (1958-1961, formed in HK in 1958 with the amalgamation of The South Lancashire Regiment and The East Lancashire Regiment.) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Warwickshire Regiment The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, previously titled the 6th Regiment of Foot, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. The regiment saw service in many conflicts and wars, including the Second Boer War ...
(1960-1962) * 1st Battalion,
Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army which existed from 1959 to 1966. In 1966, it was amalgamated with the Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment, the Royal Sussex Regiment and the Middlesex Regi ...
(1962–1964) * 1st Battalion,
Durham Light Infantry The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...
(1963-1965) * 3rd Battalion, Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade) (February to June 1965, 4 month acclimatisation before Jungle Warfare School training in Malaya.) * 1st Battalion,
Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1961 to 1966. Its lineage is continued by the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires). History The regiment was formed ...
(1965-1966, Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 1st Battalion, Royal Hampshire Regiment (1966; 1974–1976) * 2nd Battalion,
Queen's Regiment The Queen's Regiment (QUEENS) was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966 through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the Home Counties Brigade. Then, until 1971 the regiment remained one of the largest regiments in the ar ...
(January to October, 1967, Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 1st Battalion,
Lancashire Fusiliers The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many years and wars, including the Second Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, and had many different titles throughout its 28 ...
(1967–69) * 1st Battalion,
Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division. In 1702, Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he di ...
(1968–70) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Welch Fusiliers The Royal Welch Fusiliers ( cy, Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, and part of the Prince of Wales' Division, that was founded in 1689; shortly after the Glorious Revolution. In 1702, it was designate ...
(1969–1972) * 1st Battalion,
Irish Guards ("Who Shall Separate s") , colors = , identification_symbol_2 Saffron (pipes), identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition F ...
(1970–72) * 2nd Battalion,
Grenadier Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...
(1975-1976, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion,
Light Infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
(1975–77) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Green Jackets The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division (the other being The Light Infantry). History The Royal Green Jackets was formed on 1 January 1966 by the amalgama ...
(1977–80) *
1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment The 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), is a battalion of the British Army's Parachute Regiment. Along with various other regiments and corps from across the British Armed Forces, it is part of Special Forces Support Group. A specia ...
(January to May 1980, 4 month emergency tour) * 1st Battalion,
Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons) The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), officially abbreviated "QO HLDRS," was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was in existence from 1961 to 1994. History 1961–1970 The regiment was f ...
(1980–1981, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion,
Scots Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the E ...
(1981–1984, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion,
Cheshire Regiment The Cheshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The 22nd Regiment of Foot was raised by the Duke of Norfolk in 1689 and was able to boast an independent existence of over 300 years. ...
(1984–1986, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion,
Coldstream Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...
(1986–1988, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire & Wiltshire) (1988–1990, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion,
Royal Regiment of Wales The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was formed in 1969 by the amalgamation of the South Wales Borderers and the Welch Regiment. The 1st Battalion, ...
(1990–1992, Stanley Fort) * 1st Battalion,
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd Regiment of Foot, 42nd (Roy ...
(1993–1994, Stanley Fort; 1997) * 1st Battalion,
Staffordshire Regiment The Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales') (or simply "Staffords" for short) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The regiment was formed in 1959 by the amalgamation of the South Staffordshire Re ...
(1996-1997, Stanley Fort)


Gurkhas

* 1st Battalion, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (1971–75; 77–79; 81–85; 87–89; 91–92) * 2nd Battalion, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (1953–57; 57–62; 66–68; 72–75; 77–81; 83–85; 87–91) * 1st Battalion,
6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles The 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army following India's independence. Originally raised in 1817 as part of the army of the British East India Compa ...
(1956–57; 65–73; 75–77; 79–83; 85–87; 89–93) * 2nd Battalion, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles (1948–50; 62–63; 1969 amalgamated with the 1st Bn.) * 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles (1959–62; 73–77; 83–87; 89–91; 93–94) * 2nd Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles (1954–57; 62–63; 62–70; disbanded in Hong Kong in 1987) * 1st Battalion,
10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles The 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, (abbreviated to 10 GR), was originally a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was formed in 1890, taking its lineage from a police unit and over the course of its existence it had ...
(1957–60; 69–73; 75–79; 81–83; 85–89; 91–93) * 2nd Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles (1948–50; 1962; amalgamated with 1st Bn. in 1968) * 1st Battalion,
The Royal Gurkha Rifles The Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) is a rifle regiment of the British Army, forming part of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Unlike other regiments in the British Army, RGR soldiers are recruited from Nepal, which is neither a dependent territory of the Unite ...
(1994–96)


British Indian Army

* 5th Battalion,
7th Rajput Regiment 7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube. As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion, mythology, s ...
(1941–45) * 2nd Battalion,
14th Punjab Regiment The 14th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on independence in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Regi ...
(1941–45) *
Indian Hospital Corps Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asi ...
*
Indian Medical Service The Indian Medical Service (IMS) was a military medical service in British India, which also had some civilian functions. It served during the two World Wars, and remained in existence until the independence of India in 1947. Many of its officer ...
* Royal Indian Army Service Corps *
Hong Kong Mule Corps, RIASC Hong may refer to: Places *Høng, a town in Denmark *Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China *Hong, Nigeria *Hong River in China and Vietnam *Lake Hong in China Surnames *Hong (Chinese name) *Hong (Korean name) Organiz ...


Artillery

* Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery (1847 to 1940s) * 3rd Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) was formed in 1793 as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (commonly termed Royal Artillery) to provide horse artillery support to the cavalry units of the British Army. (Although the cavalry link r ...
(1973–1975; Borneo Lines, Sek Kong) * 4th Field Regiment, RA (1961-1964; HQ & 29 Bty at Fan Ling Camp, 88 Bty & 97 Bty at Dodwells Ridge Camp) * 8th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, Kowloon (1939 until captured by the Japanese in 1941) * 5th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, RAF Kai Tak (circa 1939) * 5th Field Regiment, RA (1958–1961; at Fanling Camp & Dodwells Ridge Camp) * 14th Field Regiment, RA (1949–1951 at Gun Club Hill Barracks & Sek Kong; 1953–1955 at Quarry Bay Camp; 1960–1962 at Sek Kong) * 15th Observation Battery and 173rd Locating Battery 1950 at Lo Wu Camp * 15th Medium Regiment, RA (1955–1957; 7 and 38 Med Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 18th Medium Regiment, RA (1966-1969; 40 and 52 Lt Btys at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong. RHQ disbanded in Hong Kong and Regiment placed into Suspended Animation.) * 19th Field Regiment, RA (1956–1958; 25, 28 and 67 Fd Btys at Quarry Bay Camp and Sek Kong Camps) * 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (1952; 1953–1955, with 12, 45 and 107 Fd Btys at Sek Kong Camp, 1975–1976; disbanded in HK in 1976) * 23rd Field Regiment, RA (1949–1952; 49, 50 and 69 Fld Btys at Quarry Bay Camp) * 25th Field Regiment, RA (1947–1955; 35, 54 and 93 Fld Btys at Gun Hill Club Barracks; 1969–1971 at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong) * 27th Heavy Regiment, RA (1949-1957; Redesignated 27th HAA Regt RA in 1950; 119 Bty to 34th LAA Regt RA in 1952; at Clear Water Bay and Stonecutters Island.) * 32nd Medium Regiment, RA (1952-1954,74 and 98 Med Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks; 1959–1961, 46, 50 and 74 Med Btys at Whitfield Barracks & Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 34th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1949-1952; 1961–1963, 11 and 58 LAA Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 42nd Field Regiment, RA (1955–1956, with 68, 87 and 179 Fld Btys at Sek Kong Camp) * 45th Field Regiment, RA (1951–1953 with 70, 116 and 176 Fld Btys; 1959–1961) * 47th Coast Regiment, RA (1971-1973 with 3, 4 Lt and 31 Med Btys at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong) * 49th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (1957-1961, with 55, 127 and 143 Fld Btys at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong; 1964–1966, with 143 Bty at Dodwells Ridge Camp) * 58th Medium Regiment, RA (1949–1951; with 118 and 175 Med Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 72nd Light Anti-Air Regiment, RA (1952–1955, with 31, 206 and 216 LAA Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks) * 74th Light Anti-Air Regiment, RA (1955–1958, with 158 and 161 LAA Btys at Whitfield Camp)


Engineers

Royal Engineers and Queen's Gurkha Engineers * 1 Field Squadron, * 22nd Fortress Company, Royal Engineers (circa 1939) * 40th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers (circa 1939) * 24 Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers ** 11 Field Squadron, RE (1950-1951, Sek Kong, formed by renumbering 50 Fd Sqn 24 Field Engineer Regiment) ** 15 Field Park Squadron, RE (1950-1958, formed by renumbering 46 Fd Park Sqn) ** 50 Field Squadron, RE (1949-1950, for by renumbering 11 Field Squadron) ** 54 Independent Field Squadron, RE (1950-circa 1958, formed by renumbering 25 Fd Sqn) ** 54 (Hong Kong) Support Squadron, RE (1971 until disbandment in 1975) ** 56 Field Squadron, RE (1950-1958,formed by numbering 37 Field Squadron) * Royal Engineers Postal and Courier Service (British Forces Post Box 1) * Queen's Gurkha Engineers (formed in HK in 1952 as 50th Regiment RE, renamed QGE in 1977) ** 67 Squadron, QGE(disbanded in 1996) ** 68 Squadron, QGE (disbanded in 1993) ** 69 Squadron, QGE (disbanded in HK in 1968 and reformed as 69 Gurkha Independent Field Squadron in Chatham) ** 70 Squadron, QGE (disbanded in 1993) ** Gurkha Training Squadron (disbanded in 1971)


Signals

Royal Signals and Queen's Gurkha Signals * 27th Signal Regiment,
Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(embarked for Hong Kong in 1949 as the 40th Divisional Signal Regiment) ** Amalgamated with Hong Kong Signal Squadron to form Hong Kong Signal Regiment (1950) ** Redesignated 27th Signal Regiment (1959) ** Renamed HQ Royal Signals, Hong Kong (1960) ** Renamed 27th Signal Regiment (1971, disbanded in 1976)) * Hong Kong Independent Lines Squadron,
Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(circa 1958) * Independent Gurkha Brigade Squadron (circa 1958) * Gurkha Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron (circa 1959) * Detachments, 19th Air Formation Signal Troop,
Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(circa 1959) * Detachments, 232 Squadron,
Royal Signals The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(circa 1959) * HQ Royal Signals, Hong Kong (1960-1967) ** 252 Signal Squadron on the Hong Kong Island ** 253 Signal Squadron in Kowloon, repurposed as an engineering squadron in 1962 * Joint Services Signal Staff (1967-1997) * 17th Gurkha Signal Regiment *
Queen's Gurkha Signals The Queen's Gurkha Signals (QG SIGNALS) is a regular unit of Royal Corps of Signals, one of the combat support arms of British Army. Together with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a ...
** 247 Squadron, QGS (1964-1967 until disbandment in HK, reformed in HK 1983) ** 248 Squadron, QGS (1971-1976 until disbandment; reformed in 1971) ** Hong Kong Gurkha Signal Squadron (formed in 1994 with the amalgamation of 247 & 248 Sqns, disbanded in 1997.)


Support Units

*
Army Catering Corps The Army Catering Corps (ACC) was a corps of the British Army, responsible for the feeding of all Army units. It was formed in 1941 and amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993. History In 1938 Leslie Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of ...
* Army Fire Service * Army Legal Corps /
Army Legal Services Branch The Army Legal Services Branch (ALS) is a branch of the Adjutant-General's Corps (AGC) in the British Army. Before 1992, the branch existed as the independent Army Legal Corps (ALC). History Many of the functions of the ALS were once carried ou ...
*
Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps: * Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army * Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941) * United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...
** 20 Flight, AAC (Shatin and Sek Kong, 1960s) ** No. 660 Squadron AAC,
Shek Kong Shek Kong is an area north of Tai Mo Shan, located near Kam Tin and Pat Heung, in Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong. Shek Kong Airfield is located in Shek Kong. A sizable Nepal Gurkha population is present in the area even after the ...
(1978–94) *
Army Physical Training Corps The Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) is the British Army corps responsible for physical fitness and physical education and has been headquartered in Aldershot since its foundation in 1860. Its members are all Royal Army Physical Traini ...
*
British Army Aid Group The British Army Aid Group (B.A.A.G.) was a para-military organisation for British and Allied forces in southern China during the Second World War. The B.A.A.G. was officially classified in the British Army's order of battle as an MI9 unit ...
*
Government House Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries. Gover ...
Guard (C Company) * Gurkha Transport Regiment ** 28 & 31 Squadrons *
Hong Kong Military Service Corps The Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) (Traditional Chinese: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see British Forces Overseas Hong Kong). Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has ...
(1962-1996) ** Hong Kong Chinese Regiment (1941-1948) ** Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit (1948-1962) ** Hong Kong Information Team - an internal-security, anti-smuggling and anti-illegal immigration intelligence unit under the Hong Kong Military Service Corps with Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEPS) of Chinese descent drawn from a number of British Army units. *
General List The General Service Corps (GSC) is a corps of the British Army. Role The role of the corps is to provide specialists, who are usually on the Special List or General List. These lists were used in both World Wars for specialists and those not allo ...
/
General Service Corps The General Service Corps (GSC) is a corps of the British Army. Role The role of the corps is to provide specialists, who are usually on the Special List or General List. These lists were used in both World Wars for specialists and those not allo ...
* Intelligence Corps *
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC; known as ''the QAs'') is the nursing branch of the British Army Medical Services. History Although an "official" nursing service was not established until 1881, the corps traces its heritage ...
* Royal Army Chaplains' Department *
Royal Army Dental Corps The Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) is a specialist corps in the British Army that provides dental health services to British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace. The corps is a part of the British Army's Army Medical Services. ...
*
Royal Army Education Corps The Royal Army Educational Corps (RAEC) was a corps of the British Army tasked with educating and instructing personnel in a diverse range of skills. On 6 April 1992 it became the Educational and Training Services Branch (ETS) of the Adjutant Gene ...
** 75 Army Education Centre, 28 Army Education Centre, Victoria Army Education Centre *
Royal Army Ordnance Corps The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. At its renaming as a Royal Corps in 1918 it was both a supply and repair corps. In the supply area it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equip ...
** 6th Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps (circa 1939) ** Sham Shui Po Ordnance Depot (est. 1946) ** 6 Forward Ordnance Depot, Kowloon Tong (1950; Renamed 6 Command Ordnance Depot in 1952 by combining 6 FOD and the Ammo Depot) ** Ordnance Depot Hong Kong (1960) ** Kai Tak Depot (est. 1966) ** Composite Ordnance Depot (est. 1966) * Royal Army Medical Corps / British Military Hospital, Hong Kong ** 27 Hong Kong Company, Royal Army Medical Corps (circa 1939) ** BMH Bowen Road (1907-1967) ** BMH Hong Kong (Kowloon) (1967-1996) ** 18 Field Ambulance (circa 1950s to 1972) *
Royal Army Pay Corps The Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC) was the corps of the British Army responsible for administering all financial matters. It was amalgamated into the Adjutant General's Corps in 1992. History The first "paymasters" have existed in the army before t ...
* Royal Army Service Corps ** 10 Company, RASC (circa 1939) ** 781 Company (Civil Affairs/GT), RASC (1945 until disbandment in 1946) ** 799 Company (AD), RASC (circa 1945) ** 3 Supply & Petroleum Depot, Argyle Street, Kowloon (1950s) ** 56 (Hong Kong) Company, RASC (1953-circa 1960s at Causeway Bay Camp; absorbed by 79th Company, RASC in early 1960s) ** 79 Company (Water Transport), RASC (circa 1946–1959; circa 1962; absorbed by 56th Company in early 1960s) ** 12 Hong Kong Company, RASC *
Royal Army Veterinary Corps The Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), known as the Army Veterinary Corps (AVC) until it gained the royal prefix on 27 November 1918, is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and ca ...
** Defence Animal Support Unit * Royal Corps of Transport and Gurkha Transport Regiment / Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment ** Detachment, 71 Movement Control Squadron, RCT (circa 1965) ** 31 Regiment, RCT (1968 until disbandment in 1976) *** 29 Squadron, RCT (1965 until disbandment in 1993; Reduced to 414 Pack Transport Troop in 1968, reformed as a GT Sqn from the old island detachment of 56 Squadron the same year.) *** 414 Pack Transport Troop, 29 Squadron, RCT (1968-1976; Lo Wu Camp) *** 56 Squadron, RCT (disbanded in 1976, personnel absorbed by 29 Sqn RCT) *** 415 Maritime Troop (est. 1970s, came under command Gurkha Transport Regiment in 1976) ** 28 Squadron, Gurkha Transport Regiment (from 28 Company (MT) (Gurkha) RASC; 1965–1993) ** 31 Squadron, Gurkha Transport Regiment (relocated from Singapore to Hong Kong in 1971, disbanded in 1993)) * Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ** 11 Infantry Workshop, REME (under 27 Infantry Brigade, circa 1949–1950 at Sek Kong) ** 16 Infantry Workshop (circa 1950 at Sek Kong) ** 17 Infantry Workshop (circa 1960s) ** 50 Command Workshop, (1960s-1994, at Sham Shui Po and Sek Kong) ** Light Aid Detachments to various Royal Artillery and Royal Armoured Corps units *
Royal Hong Kong Regiment The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
**
Hong Kong Volunteers The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong ...
(1854-1878) ** Hong Kong Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Corps (1978-1917) **
Hong Kong Defence Corps The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
(1917-1941) **
Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
(1941-1949) ** Hong Kong Defence Force (1949-1951) (included air and naval units) ** Royal Hong Kong Defence Force (1951-1961) ** Hong Kong Regiment (1961-1970) (repurposed from infantry to reconnaissance) **
Royal Hong Kong Regiment The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
(Volunteers) (1970-1995) *
Royal Logistic Corps The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army. History The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed on 5 April 1993, by the union of five British Army corps: * Royal Engine ...
** Hong Kong Postal & Courier Squadron, RLC (1993 until disbandment) *
Royal Military Police The Royal Military Police (RMP) is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of army service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations ...
** 40th Infantry Division Provost Company ** Hong Kong Provost Company, RMP *
Women's Royal Army Corps The Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC; sometimes pronounced acronymically as , a term unpopular with its members) was the corps to which all women in the British Army belonged from 1949 to 1992, except medical, dental and veterinary officers and cha ...


Installations

A list of
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
installations in Hong Kong: * Bonham Tower Barracks * Burma Lines - Queen's Hill Camp * Cassino Lines – likely named for Battle of Monte Cassino from the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
*
Central Ordnance Munitions Depot The Central Ordnance Munitions Depot was constructed in the late 1930s by British for the World War II to combat the Japanese Invasion as well as to store arms and ammunition for the defence of Hong Kong. The British used "Little Hong Kong", ...
*
Flagstaff House Flagstaff House, built in 1846, is the oldest example of Western-style architecture remaining in Hong Kong.Antiquities and Monuments OfficeDeclared Monuments in Hong Kong: Flagstaff House It is located at 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central – w ...
1978 – former British Forces HQ and known as Headquarters House 1846–1932 and built for Major General George Charles D'Aguilar; now known as Museum of Teaware. *
Gallipoli Lines The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles st ...
– Sha Tau Kok Road in Fanling, formerly San Wai Camp; San Wai/Tai Ling Range. *
Gin Drinkers Line The Gin Drinkers Line, or Gin Drinkers' Line, was a British military defensive line against the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong during the Battle of Hong Kong in December 1941, part of the Pacific War. The concept came from France's Maginot L ...
1930s * Gun Club Hill Barracks – now PLA barracks * Lo Wu Camp (now the Lo Wu Correctional Institution) *
Kohima Camp Kohima Camp or Kohima Barracks as it was officially described () in Tai Po Tsai north of Clear Water Bay Peninsula was the site of a proposed new army barracks to house an additional British infantry battalion to be stationed in Hong Kong following ...
(
Tai Po Tsai Tai Po Tsai () is an area and a village, clustering in a small plain around Clear Water Bay Road in Clear Water Bay Peninsula, Sai Kung District, Hong Kong. Geography Tai Po Tsai is located northeast of Tseung Kwan O New Town on the east mid s ...
) – became the site of
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a public research university in Clear Water Bay Peninsula, New Territories, Hong Kong. Founded in 1991 by the British Hong Kong Government, it was the territory's third institutio ...
* Lo Wu Observation Post, Sha Tau Kok Observation Post, Sandy Ridge Observation Post and Tai O Observation Post. * Lyemun Barracks or Lei Yue Mun Barracks 1840s – coast defence and now Museum of Coastal Defence and Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village * Murray Battery * (Queen) Victoria Barracks 1846–1979 – parade grounds now site of Pacific Place, JW Marriott Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel and
Hong Kong Park The Hong Kong Park is a public park next to Cotton Tree Drive in Central, Hong Kong. Built at a cost of HK$398 million and opened on 23 May 1991, it covers an area of and is an example of modern design and facilities blending with ...
; the Barracks was converted to The Visual Arts Centre (
Hong Kong Museum of Art The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) is the first and main art museum of Hong Kong, located in Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. It is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government. HKMoA has an art collection ...
). Victoria Barracks consisted of: ** The Former Explosives Magazine complex, which is now part of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. ** Cassels Block - Originally named Block C, the former barracks for married British officers. The building is now the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. Likely named after Sir Robert Cassels, British Indian Army officer and Viceroy of India. ** Rawlinson House - the former residence of the Deputy Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong. Now a marriage registry. Two Warrant Officers' Married Quarters were integrated with it into a single building in the 1960s. ** Wavell House - former quarters for married British officers, converted in 1991 into the aviary support centre (Education Centre). ** Montgomery Block - currently home to Mother's Choice Limited. ** Roberts Block - now the Jockey Club New Life Hostel of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. ** Alexander Block - Demolished. ** Birdwood Block - married officers' quarters, Demolished. ** Colvin Block - used by the Women's Royal Army Corps, now the site of the British Council and British Consulate-General complex. ** Freyberg Block - was HQ Intelligence Services. Demolished. ** Gort Block - living quarters. Demolished. ** Hamilton Block - returned to the Hong Kong Government in 1967. Demolished. ** Kitchener Block - accommodation for school teachers. Demolished. ** Queen's Line - now Ching Yi To Barracks of the People's Liberation Army. * North Barracks 1840s–1887 – to the RN 1887–1959 and Hong Kong Government 1959– *
Murray Barracks Murray Barracks () was a barracks for the British Army garrisoned in Admiralty, Central in Hong Kong. It was named after Sir George Murray, the Master-General of the Ordnance at the time of construction. Location It was situated between present ...
1846–1982 – named for
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
Major-General Sir George Murray; the officers' quarters was moved from Central to
Stanley Stanley may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Stanley'' (1972 film), an American horror film * ''Stanley'' (1984 film), an Australian comedy * ''Stanley'' (1999 film), an animated short * ''Stanley'' (1956 TV series) ...
, now known as
Murray House Murray House is a Victorian-era building in Stanley, Hong Kong. Built in the present-day business district of Central in 1846 as officers' quarters of the Murray Barracks, the building was moved to the south of Hong Kong Island during the ...
*
Osborn Barracks Kowloon East Barracks (), formerly Osborn Barracks (), is a People's Liberation Army facility, and was a British Army facility, in Kowloon City District, Hong Kong. Located in the northern part of Kowloon on Waterloo Road and Junction Road (ac ...
( Kowloon) 1945 – named for
Winnipeg Grenadiers , colors = , colors_label = , march = "British Grenadiers" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment_label = Equipment ...
Company Sergeant Major
John Robert Osborn Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn, VC (2 January 1899 − 19 December 1941) was a Canadian soldier. Osborn was a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that ...
VC of Canada who died in defending Hong Kong in 1941. *
Perowne Barracks Perowne Barracks is a former British Army barracks in Hong Kong. The barracks are no longer in military use. History The barracks, which were established as Tai Lam Military Camp in 1931, were subsequently renamed Perowne Barracks after Major Gen ...
(
Tuen Mun Tuen Mun or Castle Peak is an area near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in what is now Hong Kong and can be dated to the Neolithic period. In the more ...
) – established in 1931 as the Tai Lam Camp. Named for British Army Major General
Lancelot Perowne Major General Lancelot Edgar Connop Mervyn Perowne, (11 June 1902 – 24 March 1982) was a British Army officer who commanded the 17th Gurkha Division during the Malayan Emergency. Military career The son of John Thomas Woolrych Perowne and E ...
and once used by Tuen Mun Immigration Service Training School, now used by Crossroads International * Sek Kong Barracks ** Headquarters 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade ** Training Depot Brigade of Gurkhas (TDBG) ** Borneo Lines ** Malaya Lines ** British Forces Broadcasting Service ** Services Sound and Vision Corporation *
Sham Shui Po Barracks Sham Shui Po Barracks was a British Army facility built in the 1920s in the Sham Shui Po area of Kowloon, Hong Kong. The base was bounded by Fuk Wa Street to the east by Yen Chow Street and to the west by Tonkin Street and Camp Street. The bu ...
– has been WWII Japanese War Prison, Vietnamese Refugee Camp and now housing estates, commercial centre and government offices. * Saiwan Barracks 1844 – used for a short duration and abandoned for Lyemun Barracks. *
Sai Wan War Cemetery Sai Wan War Cemetery is a military cemetery located in Chai Wan, Hong Kong which was built in 1946. The cemetery was created to commemorate soldiers of Hong Kong Garrison who perished during the Second World War. The cemetery also contains 12 W ...
*
Stanley Military Cemetery Stanley Military Cemetery is a cemetery located near St. Stephen's Beach in Stanley, Hong Kong. Along with the larger Hong Kong (Happy Valley) Cemetery, it is one of two military cemeteries of the early colonial era, used for the burials ...
*
Stanley Fort Stanley Fort is a military installation on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Built originally to serve the British Armed Forces, it now houses the Hong Kong garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It has also been use ...
( Hong Kong Island) 1841 – later served as Stanley Prison and WWII Japanese War Prison. *
Wellington Barracks Wellington Barracks is a military barracks in Westminster, central London, for the Foot Guards battalions on public duties in that area. The building is located about three hundred yards from Buckingham Palace, allowing the guard to be able to ...
1840s–1946 – to the RN as HMS ''Tamar'' 1946–1960s (demolished and replaced with HMS Tamar/Prince of Wales Building, now the
Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building The Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building is a 113-metre (371 ft) tall, 28-floor building located within the former HMS Tamar naval base on Lung Wui Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong. It serves as the headquarters of the Peop ...
) * Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes


Royal Navy / Royal Marines

The
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
and Royal Marines was stationed in Hong Kong right from the beginning of the establishment of Hong Kong as a British Colony. For the most part, the Royal Naval base was located in Hong Kong Island at HMS ''Tamar''. The
Prince of Wales Building A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
was added later in the 1970s. Before the handover, the naval base was moved to
Stonecutters Island Stonecutters Island or Ngong Shuen Chau is a former island in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Following land reclamation, it is now attached to the Kowloon Peninsula. Fauna The island once boasted at least three mating pairs of sulphur-crested co ...
next to the Government docks. RN and RFA ships visited or posted to Hong Kong prior to the Second World War: * (1841) * (circa 1841) * (circa 1847) * (circa 1858) * (circa 1871) * (circa 1873) * (circa 1897) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (circa 1901) * (1904) * (1905) * (1906) * (circa 1901; sold in Hong Kong in 1916) * (circa 1914) * (circa 1914) * (1920–26) * (1927) * (circa 1939) (transferred to Singapore before the Battle of Hong Kong) RN ships and land units in Hong Kong during the Second World War: * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Royal Naval Dockyard Police Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a c ...
* Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps Auxiliary Patrol Vessels in Hong Kong during the Second World War: * APV ''Britannia'' * APV ''Chun Hsing'' * APV ''Frosty'' * APV ''Han Wo'' * APV ''Ho Hsing'' * APV ''Henriette'' * APV ''Indira'' * APV ''Margaret'' * APV ''Minnie'' * APV ''Perla'' * APV ''Poseidon'' * APV ''Shun Wo'' * * * APV ''Stanley'' * APV ''Teh Hsing'' RN formations and units in Hong Kong (Post-Second World War): *
China Squadron The Commander-in-Chief, China was the admiral in command of what was usually known as the China Station, at once both a British Royal Navy naval formation and its admiral in command. It was created in 1865 and deactivated in 1941. From 1831 to 18 ...
1844–1941, 1945–1992 *
3rd Frigate Squadron The 3rd Frigate Squadron also known as the Third Frigate Squadron was a naval formation of the Royal Navy from February 1949 to 1963 and again from 1972 to May 1980. The 3rd Frigate Squadron was formed in February 1949 and was assigned to the ...
(1949 to 1963; 1972 to 1980) *
Far East Fleet The Far East Fleet (also called the Far East Station) was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed between 1952 and 1971. During the Second World War, the Eastern Fleet included many ships and personnel from other navies, including those of the ...
/ Hong Kong Squadron 1969–1971 *
Dragon Squadron A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
1971–1992 * Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves 1967–1996 – merge with RNR 1971 * Side Girls Party 1933–1997 *
120th Minesweeping Squadron 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
1958–1966 – transfer to Singapore *
6th Mine Countermeasure Squadron 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
1969–1997 * 6th Patrol Craft Squadron 1970–1997 * Operations and Training Base 1934–1997 * British Pacific Fleet 1840s–1948 – to Singapore as Far East Station * Hong Kong Flotilla 1840s–1941, 1948–1992 * China Station –
4th Submarine Flotilla Fourth or the fourth may refer to: * the ordinal form of the number 4 * ''Fourth'' (album), by Soft Machine, 1971 * Fourth (angle), an ancient astronomical subdivision * Fourth (music), a musical interval * ''The Fourth'' (1972 film), a Sovie ...
, Yangtse Flotilla,
West River Flotilla West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...
,
8th Destroyer Flotilla The 8th Destroyer Flotilla, also styled as the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, was a military formation of the British Royal Navy from 1911 to 1939. History The flotilla was established in August 1911. In 1912 was assigned to the Admiral of Patrols ...
* 5th Cruiser Squadron *
1st Escort Flotilla First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number 1 (number), one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, D ...
* 4th Frigate Flotilla ?-1952 * Frigate Squadron 1952–1976 * Light Cruiser Squadron RN and RFA ships visited or posted to Hong Kong after the Second World War: * (1945) * (1948) * (circa 1951) * (1952) * (circa 1954) * (1961; 1963) * (circa 1963) * (circa 1963) * (circa 1963) * (1964) * (circa 1974) * (circa 1973–1976) * (circa 1980) * (1992) * (1992) * (1997) * (1986; 1990; 1997) * (1997) Royal Marines: *
40 Commando 40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of Commander in Chief Fleet. Their barracks are at Norton ...
,
3 Commando Brigade 3 Commando Brigade (3 Cdo Bde), previously called the 3rd Special Service Brigade, is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces. It is composed of the Royal Marine Commandos, alongside commando qualified sailors, soldiers and airmen from ...
, RM (1946–47; 1949; 1962) *
42 Commando 42 Commando (42 Cdo) (pronounced as Four-Two Commando) is a subordinate unit within the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade. Based at Bickleigh Barracks near Plymouth, personnel regularly deploy outside the United Kingdom on operations or training. ...
, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1945; 1949) *
44 Commando No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando was a battalion size formation in the British Commandos, formed during the Second World War. The Commando was assigned to the 3rd Special Service Brigade and served in the Burma Campaign. Background The British C ...
, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1945-1947; redesignated 40 Commando in 1947) *
45 Commando 45 Commando Royal Marines (pronounced "four-five commando") is a battalion sized unit of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, the principal Commando formation, under the Operational Command of the ...
, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1946-1947; 1949–1950) * No. 3 Raiding Squadron, RM (1978-1988) *
47 Royal Marines 47, 47 or forty-seven may refer to: *47 (number) *47 BC * AD 47 *1947 * 2047 *'47 (brand), an American clothing brand * ''47'' (magazine), an American publication * 47 (song), a song by Sidhu Moose Wala *47, a song by New Found Glory from the alb ...
A list of naval facilities used or built by the RN in Hong Kong: *
Stonecutters Island Stonecutters Island or Ngong Shuen Chau is a former island in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Following land reclamation, it is now attached to the Kowloon Peninsula. Fauna The island once boasted at least three mating pairs of sulphur-crested co ...
** Royal Navy Radio Interception and Direction-finding Station (est. 1935) ** HQ 415 Maritime Troop, Royal Corps of Transport * Prince of Wales Building 1978–1997 – known as Central Barracks of the PLA * Lamont and Hope Drydocks *
Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
Docks – destroyed * Dry Dock 1902–1959 *
Taikoo Dockyard Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company () was a dockyard in what is now Taikoo Shing, MTR Tai Koo station and part of Taikoo Place of Quarry Bay on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. History The idea that John Swire and Sons should have their ...
– Hong Kong United Dockyards * Royal Navy Dockyards,
Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong *Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Traf ...
1859–1902 *
Royal Navy Dockyards Royal Navy Dockyards (more usually termed Royal Dockyards) were state-owned harbour facilities where ships of the Royal Navy were built, based, repaired and refitted. Until the mid-19th century the Royal Dockyards were the largest industrial c ...
1902–1959 – Kowloon Dockyard not part of Hung Hom area. * RN Coal storage yard, Stonecutters Island 1861–1959 * RN Coal storage yard and Kowloon Naval Dockyards 1901–1959 *
Sai Wan Sai Wan, also known as Western district, or simply Western, is an area in Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong that corresponds to Sai Ying Pun, Shek Tong Tsui, Belcher Bay and Kennedy Town. It formed part of the City of Victoria. West Point, a f ...
Barracks 1844–1846 * Wellington Barracks 1946–1978 – as HMS ''Tamar'' (demolished) * North Barracks 1850s–1856, 1887–1959 – from the Army and to HK Government 1959 * Victoria Barracks * Redoubt and Lei Yue Mun Fortifications 1885–1887 * Lei Yue Mun Fort 1887–1987 * Reverse, Central, West and Pass Batteries 1880s * Brennan Torpedo station 1890 – Lei Yue Mun * Royal Naval Hospital,
Wan Chai Wan Chai is situated at the western part of the Wan Chai District on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, in Hong Kong. Its other boundaries are Canal Road to the east, Arsenal Street to the west and Bowen Road to the south. The area n ...
– demolished, now replaced by
Ruttonjee Hospital Ruttonjee Hospital is a district general hospital in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is affiliated with the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Hong Kong, and provides clinical attachment opportunities for the u ...
* Seaman's Hospital 1843–1873 – replaced by Royal Naval Hospital * 1945–1946 – as a hospital ship * War Memorial Hospital (Matilda) 1946–1959 * British Military Hospital 1959–1995 * Island Group Practice 1995–1997 – replace BMH * and – Receiving Ships * Tidal Basin 1902–1959 * Boat Basin 1902–1959 * HM Victualling Yards 1859–1946 A list of facilities used or built by the RN in Hong Kong: * Lamont and Hope Drydocks * Aberdeen Docks * Royal Naval Hospital, Wan Chai – now Ruttonjee Sanatorium * Seaman's Hospital 1843–1873 – replaced by Royal Naval Hospital * and – Receiving Ships * – Receiving ship 1897–1941 * HMS ''Nabcatcher'' – Kai Tak 1945–1946 * – Kai Tak 1947 * 1841-mid-1840s – hospital ship * 1840s–1865 – hospital ship * 1860s–1873 – hospital ship (East Indies Sqdn)


Royal Air Force

The
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
was the smallest contingent of the British Forces and was stationed in both Kai Tak Airport as well as the airfield in the New Territories known as Sek Kong. No. 28 (AC) Squadron and the larger Royal Air Force infrastructure located to RAF Sek Kong in the late 1970s leaving Royal Air Force logistics elements to maintain operations at Kai Tak, e.g. RAF movers and suppliers remained to maintain the logistical link between RAF Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. The squadron flew up to 8 Westland Wessex HC Mk 2 helicopters from RAF Sek Kong. Tasks included support of the civil power, support of the British Forces and search and rescue. About 20 years later, RAF personnel returned from Sek Kong to Kai Tak, mounting operations from that airport in the months prior to the 1997 handover. In addition, the Hong Kong Government also maintained an "airforce". This airforce as per the land unit of RHKR (V), was an arm of the Hong Kong Government, supported by RAF personnel seconded to serve in the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the Uni ...
1970–1993 – handed over to GFS * Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps – Air Arm 1930–1949 * Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force 1949–1970 – see RHKAAF
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
units which visited or were stationed in Hong Kong included: * No. 681 Squadron RAF (September–December 1945) *
No. 1331 Wing RAF Regiment This is a list of units of the Royal Air Force Regiment. The RAF Regiment is the ground fighting force of the Royal Air Force and is charged mainly with protecting military airfields, among other duties. First formed in 1942 to protect the airfi ...
(circa 1946) * No. 96 Squadron RAF (1946) *
No. 1430 (Flying Boat Transport) Flight RAF Number 88 Squadron was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed at Gosport, Hampshire in July 1917 as a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) squadron. First World War After forming at Gosport in July 1917, the squadron was moved to France ...
(1946) *
Japan Force Communications Flight RAF Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
(circa 1946) *
No. 132 Squadron RAF No. 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II. History Formation and World War I No. 132 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was formed on 1 ...
(1945-1946) * No. 200 Staging Post RAF (1945-1946) * No. 215 Squadron (Transport) (1945–1946) * Hong Kong Communication Flight Squadron RAF (1945-1947) *
No. 88 Squadron RAF Number 88 Squadron was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed at Gosport, Hampshire in July 1917 as a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) squadron. First World War After forming at Gosport in July 1917, the squadron was moved to Fran ...
(1946-1951) * No. 209 Squadron (Maritime Patrol) (1946–1955) * No. 110 Squadron RAF (1947) *
No. 81 Squadron RAF No 81 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It flew Fighter aircraft during the Second World War, and reconnaissance aircraft in the Far East after the war and was disbanded in 1970. History First World War No. 81 Squadron Royal Flyin ...
(1947-1958) * No. 1903 Flight RAF and No. 656 Squadron RAF (1948-1949) * No. 28 Squadron RAF(1949-1951; 1955; 1957- 1967; 1968–1978; 1996–1997) * No. 80 Squadron RAF (1949-1955) with Supermarine Spitfire F.24 & de Havilland Hornet F.3 * No. 205 Squadron (Maritime Reconnaissance) (1949–1958) *
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the Uni ...
(1949-1993) * Hong Kong Auxiliary Flight (1949-1950) * Hong Kong Auxiliary Squadron (1950-1953) *
Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force Wing Hong may refer to: Places *Høng, a town in Denmark *Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China *Hong, Nigeria *Hong River in China and Vietnam *Lake Hong in China Surnames *Hong (Chinese name) *Hong (Korean name) Organiz ...
(circa 1953) * Hong Kong Fighter Squadron (circa 1953) *
No. 60 Squadron RAF No. 60 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport. It is currently part of No. 1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire flying the Airbus H135 Juno HT1. The squadron badge is a markhor's head and was app ...
(1961-1968) * No. 846 Squadron FAA (1963–1964) (RAF Kai Tak) * No. 103 Squadron RAF (1963-1969) * No. 110 Squadron RAF (1964-1969) * No. 45 Squadron (Bomber) (1965–1970) * No. 847 Squadron FAA (1970) (RAF Kai Tak) *
No. 41 Squadron RAF No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the RAF's Typhoon Test and Evaluation Squadron ("TES"), based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The squadron was formed in 1916 during First World War as part of the Royal ...
(1973;
McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service The United Kingdom operated the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II as one of its principal combat aircraft from 1968 to 1992. The UK was the first export customer for the Phantom, which was ordered in the context of political and economic difficu ...
jets) * No. 22 Squadron (Anti-shipping patrol), 1996–1997 *
RAF Police The Royal Air Force Police (RAFP) is the service police branch of the Royal Air Force, headed by the provost marshal of the Royal Air Force. Its headquarters are at RAF Honington and it deploys throughout the world to support RAF and UK defence ...
* No. 60 Squadron * No. 681 Squadron (Photo Reconnaissance) * 114th (Hong Kong) Squadron RAF * No. 367 Wireless Unit * No. 368 Wireless Unit * No. 117 Signals Unit (Tai Mo Shan), w.e.f. January 1959 when it was relocated from Mount Davis (West end of Hong Kong Island) * ASF (Catering Squadron) * GEF (Ground Radio) * Medical Supply Squadron * No. 444 Signals Unit (Stanley Fort), 1971 to 1977 Sources indicate that 444 Signals Unit (SU) formed officially within No. 90 (Signals) Group RAF, Strike Command with effect from 16 August 1971, and was established as a lodger unit at Stanley Fort, Hong Kong. The primary role of 444 SU was to act as a ground station for the Skynet satellite communications system, responsibility for operating the Skynet system having been vested in the RAF in the late 1960s, under the Rationalisation of Inter Services Telecommunications (RISTACOM) agreement. It would appear that the equipment operated by 444 SU had been located previously at
RAF Bahrain Muharraq Airfield is a military base located adjacent to Bahrain International Airport. It is run by the United States Navy (USN) and usually ships supplies in and out of the airport with many of them from other countries as well. The USN, the Un ...
(HMS Jufair). On 1 May 1972, No. 90 (Signals) Group was transferred from
RAF Strike Command The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007 when it merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air C ...
to
RAF Maintenance Command RAF Maintenance Command was the Royal Air Force command which was responsible for controlling maintenance for all the United Kingdom-based units from formation on 1 April 1938 until being renamed RAF Support Command on 31 August 1973. History ...
and as a consequence 444 SU became a Maintenance Command unit on this date. On 31 August 1973, both 90 (Signals) Group and Maintenance Command were disbanded, to be replaced on the following day by the new RAF Support Command. All of the units and locations previously controlled by the disbanded formations were transferred to Support Command with effect from 1 September 1973 and 444 SU therefore became a Support Command unit. This was to prove short-lived, however, for on 1 November 1973, 444 SU and the unit responsible for maintaining the Skynet ground station at RAF Gan – 6 SU – were both transferred to the command of the Air Officer Commanding in Chief
Near East Air Force The former Royal Air Force Near East Air Force, more simply known as RAF Near East Air Force, was the Command organisation that controlled all Royal Air Force assets in the Eastern Mediterranean (the Near East). History The Command was originally ...
(NEAF). At this time 444 SU and 6 SU formed part of the Defence Communications Network (DCN) and the DCN elements of both units came under the functional control of the Controller DCN, Ministry of Defence. On 1 August 1975, administrative and engineering responsibility for all of the units of RAF Hong Kong, including 444 SU, were transferred from NEAF to
RAF Strike Command The Royal Air Force's Strike Command was the military formation which controlled the majority of the United Kingdom's bomber and fighter aircraft from 1968 until 2007 when it merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air C ...
– functional control of these units being retained by the Vice Chief of the Air Staff via Commander RAF Hong Kong. Subsequently, with the disbandment of HQ NEAF on 31 March 1976, control of RAF Hong Kong and its component units were transferred in total to Strike Command. On 28 March 1976, RAF Gan closed and 6 SU disbanded formally on the same date, the latter's satellite communications equipment being transferred to 444 SU. 444SU was hosted at Stanley Fort by the British Army. Sources indicate that 444 SU disbanded on the 31 December 1977. * Composite Signals Unit A list of
RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
Stations in Hong Kong: * RAF
North Point North Point is a mixed-use urban area in the Eastern District of Hong Kong. Located in the northeastern part of Hong Kong Island, the area is named after a cape between Causeway Bay and Tsat Tsz Mui that projects toward Kowloon Bay. Locat ...
(Hong Kong) *
RAF Little Sai Wan RAF Little Sai Wan was a signals intelligence station in the Siu Sai Wan area of Hong Kong. History The station was established by the Royal Air Force as base for 367 Signals Unit in the early 1950s. In 1964, following a review by Sir Gerald Te ...
* RAF Mount Davis home of 117 Signals Unit relocated 1959 (without living accommodation) to RAF Tai Mo Shan * RAF Sha Tin – (no ICAO code) from 1949-1970s. Severely damaged by Typhoon Wanda in 1962. Demolished to make way for
Sha Tin New Town Sha Tin New Town, or known as Sha Tin-Ma On Shan New Town or Sha Tin Town is one of the satellite towns and new towns of Hong Kong. It is within the Sha Tin District, the New Territories. The New Town covers the neighbourhoods such as Sha Tin, ...
. *
RAF Sek Kong The Shek Kong Airfield (ICAO: VHSK), formerly Royal Air Force Station Sek Kong or Sek Kong Airfield, is an airfield (airbase) located in Shek Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong. The base currently houses air force units of People's Liberation A ...
– (VHSK) served as Vietnamese Detention Centre 1980s *
RAF Kai Tak RAF Kai Tak was a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Hong Kong, based at Kai Tak Airport. It was opened in 1927 and used for seaplanes. The RAF flight operated a few land based aircraft as well as having spare aircraft for naval units. History ...
– (VHKT) later as
Kai Tak International Airport Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. Officially known as Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, it is often referred to as Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, or simply Ka ...
A list of
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
operations facilities: *
Tai Po Tsai Tai Po Tsai () is an area and a village, clustering in a small plain around Clear Water Bay Road in Clear Water Bay Peninsula, Sai Kung District, Hong Kong. Geography Tai Po Tsai is located northeast of Tseung Kwan O New Town on the east mid s ...
* Cape Collinson * Batty's Belvedere * Kong Wei, RAF Sek Kong * Chung Hom Kok * Wang Fung Terrace, Tai Hang ( Happy Valley) Search and rescue operations conducted by the RAF and
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
were later transferred to the
Government Flying Service The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined unit and paramilitary flying organisation of the Government of Hong Kong. The service has its head office in, and operates from, the southwestern end of Hong Kong International Airport at ...
(GFS).


Other facilities

* British Military Hospital, Hong Kong * Medical centres at Victoria Barracks, Lyemun Barracks, Stanley Fort, Whitfield Barracks, Sham Shui Po, Choy Hung, MRS Sek Kong and Lo Wu. * British Forces Broadcasting Service * Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (
NAAFI The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI ) is a company created by the British government on 9 December 1920 to run recreational establishments needed by the British Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families. It runs ...
) * Blackdown Barracks, Hong Kong (彩虹軍營) – near Kai Tak; now is Rhythm Garden (采頤花園), car park building, and Canossa Primary School. *
Mount Austin Barracks Mount Austin Barracks was a British Army base in Hong Kong during British rule. It was acquired in 1897 and developed from the former Mount Austin Hotel. It is named after John Gardiner Austin, former Hong Kong Colonial Secretary. It was located ...
– near Peak Tram terminus at Victoria Peak * Royal Hong Kong Regimental Headquarters near Happy Valley – demolished 1995


China Fleet Club

Hong Kong became an important port of call for many naval ships passing through the Far East. Besides
Lan Kwai Fong Lan Kwai Fong (often abbreviated as LKF) is a small square of streets in Central, Hong Kong. The area was dedicated to hawkers before the Second World War, but underwent a renaissance in the mid-1980s. It is now a popular expatriate haunt ...
, Royal Navy sailors had their own entertainment facility called the "China Fleet Club". A timeline of the China Fleet Club: * 1900–1903 local Hong Kong businessman and Royal Navy's China Fleet to raise funds for a Royal Naval Canteen at Naval Docks, Hong Kong * 1929 old canteen building demolished and replaced with new building * 1929–1934 Temporary CFC at Gloucester Road * 1933 cornerstone laid by Admiral Sir
Howard Kelly Howard Kelly may refer to: * Howard Kelly (Royal Navy officer) - (1873-1952) Royal Navy admiral * Howard Atwood Kelly Howard Atwood Kelly (February 20, 1858 – January 12, 1943) was an American gynecologist. He obtained his B.A. degree and M.D ...
, G.B.E., K.C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., then Commander-in-Chief, China Station; new seven-storey China Fleet Club building called "The Old Blue" * 1941–1945 CFC serves as Japanese Naval HQ in Hong Kong during the Second World War * 1945 CFC re-occupied by RN * 1952 Coronation Annex added * 1982, 16 July The Final Demolition Party held in Club before move to Sun Hung Kai * 1982–1985 CFC relocated to temporary site at Sun Hung Kai Centre * 1985 25-storey Fleet House new home for CFC * 1986 Plans to relocate CFC to UK begins * 1989 Construction of China Fleet Country Club in
Saltash Saltash (Cornish: Essa) is a town and civil parish in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It had a population of 16,184 in 2011 census. Saltash faces the city of Plymouth over the River Tamar and is popularly known as "the Gateway to Corn ...
begins * 1991 Construction of China Fleet Country Club in Saltash completed and opens in June * 1992 CFC in Hong Kong closes


See also

*
People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for defence duties in the Hong Kong Special administrative regions of China, Special Administrative Region (SAR) since the sove ...
*
Military of Macau under Portuguese rule Macau was under Portuguese rule from 1557 until 1999. During the final period of colonial administration prior to the handover to China, Portugal retained only limited numbers of military personnel in Macau for liaison and support purposes; the l ...
*
Hong Kong Defence Force (Imperial Japanese Army) The Hong Kong Defence Force was the main Imperial Japanese Army formation responsible for garrison duties during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. It was formed in January 1942 and disbanded after the end of the war in August 1945. Structure a ...


References


Citations


Bibliography

* Alderson, G.L.D. ''History of Royal Air Force Kai Tak.'' Hong Kong: Royal Air Force Kai Tak, 1972. * Bruce, Philip. ''Second to None''. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1991. * Cracknell, Philip. ''Battle for Hong Kong, December 1941.'' Chelford: Amberley Publishing, 2019. * Craig, Neil & Craig, Jo. ''Black Watch, Red Dawn: The Hong Kong Handover to China Hardcover.'' London: Brasseys, 1998. * * Felton, Mark. ''China Station: British Military in the Middle Kingdom 1839-1997.'' Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2013. * Gregorian, Raffi. ''The British Army, the Gurkhas and Cold War strategy in the Far East, 1947–19''54. New York : Palgrave, 2002. * * Jeffreys, Alan. ''The British Army in the Far East 1941-45.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2005. * Ko, Tim-keung, et al. ed. ''Serving Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Volunteers.'' Hong Kong: Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, 2004. * Kwong, Chi Man & Tsoi, Yiu Lun. ''Eastern Fortress: A Military History of Hong Kong, 1840–1970.'' Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong Press, 2014. * Lord, Cliff & Watson, Graham. ''The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its Antecedents.'' West Midlands: Helion & Company, 2003. * Melson, P.J. ''White Ensign Red Dragon: The History of the Royal Navy in Hong Kong 1841–1997''. Hong Kong: Edinburgh Financial Publishing, 1997. * National Museum of the Royal Navy. ''The Royal Marines and Hong Kong: Over 150 Years from 1840 to 1997.'' Portsmouth: Royal Marines Historical Society Special Publication Number 19, 1997. * Oxley, D.H. ''Victoria Barracks, 1842–1979.'' Hong Kong: British Forces Hong Kong, 1979. * Parkinson, Jonathan. ''The Royal Navy, China Station: 1864 - 1941: As seen through the lives of the Commanders in Chief.'' Leicestershire: Matador, 2018. * Richardson, Sam S. ''The Royal Marines and Hong Kong, 1840–1997.'' Portsmouth: Royal Marines Historical Society, 1997. * Rollo, Denis. ''The Guns & Gunners of Hong Kong''. Hong Kong: The Gunners' Roll of Hong Kong, 1991.


Further reading

*


External links

*
China Fleet Club





RAF Kai Tak

Royal Hong Kong Regiment The Volunteers Association

Stanley Fort



Hong Kong Gunners Association

RAF Chinese Linguists in Hong Kong
{{British infantry brigades of the Second World War Hong Kong and the Commonwealth of Nations Military of Hong Kong under British rule 19th-century military history of the United Kingdom 20th-century military history of the United Kingdom British Armed Forces deployments Joint commands of the United Kingdom Military units and formations disestablished in 1997