 I enlisted in the Army on 9 January 1967, and did recruit and driver training at the Depot Hong Kong Military Service Corps, Lyemun Barracks, Hong Kong Island. On completion of this training, I was posted to Hong Kong Provost Company Royal Military Police. I served with the Island Detachment, Victoria Barracks, from 16 July 1967 to 7 February 1972 before moving on to other duties within the Army in Hong Kong. I enjoyed my five years with RMP, during which I reached the substantive rank of Corporal. The RMP in Hong Kong had a wide and varied role. In the 1960s, the HK soldiers supplied to the HK Pro Coy RMP by HKMSC were employed as MT drivers. However, in order that these HK soldiers could deal with every situation within every aspect of RMP concern, in the 1970s it became mandatory for them to attend the Basic Provost Course and even the Senior Promotion Course, both of which were held at the RMP Training Centre in Chichester, UK. The knowledge and skills learned during the 16- week Basic Provost Course were invaluable, enabling HK soldiers to integrate smoothly into the HK Pro Coy and SIB RMP. They returned to the unit with the self-confidence and bearing required to deal with the demanding tasks expected of RMP NCOs. The first HK soldiers were enrolled into the HK Pro Coy in 1949. This was a landmark in the development of the Hong Kong RMP, as it extended the unitˇ¦s capabilities and enabled the RMP to communicate not just with the military, but also brought about improved and effective liaison between other policing organisations and the local community. In 1958, the Army Guard Dog Unit Hong Kong, part of the RAVC, was rebadged RMP. Initially the unit was comparatively small but it grew rapidly in numbers as the demands on it increased, and its range of duties expanded accordingly. As its height, it numbered 120 HK soldier handlers and 80 war dogs under the command of a British OC supported by a WO1 RMP The Dog Coy, as it was called later, played a major role in patrol operations along the border with the Chinese Peopleˇ¦s Republic, as well as by providing guard dogs for camps and military installations within the Garrison. The Dog Coy also added to its reputation by putting on displays at various open days and shows around Hong Kong, and by achieving a series of highly creditable results in the dog obedience trials held in the 1960s and 1970s. Sadly, on 1 September 1976, the Dog Coy was rebadged to the RAVC again, thus ending a near twenty yearsˇ¦ command of the Dog Coy by the RMP. The HK Pro Coy and SIB RMP continued with their other more traditional policing and investigating duties within Hong Kong, assisted by the Hong Kong soldiers under command, who brought not only their professionalism and local knowledge to the job but also added an oriental flavour that was unique within the RMP. |
