Page 154 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
said Major Revell who commanded the Border Detachment at this time. “There have been more hand guns coming into Hong Kong generally, as yet none of our team has been confronted by an illegal immigrant carrying a gun or armed with a knife, but it’s something one must be aware of.”32
The evidence was there – illegal immigrants were better prepared than ever. Those who were intercepted now carried equipment and maps and appeared to be well-briefed. In Major Revell’s words: “They have got more sophisticated and have developed their own sort of field craft skills to try and evade us.”33
Even the well-prepared stowaway met their match in the ever-evolving skills of the HK DASU RAVC handlers and dogs. They were still risking their lives to reach Hong Kong knowing what was waiting to face them at the border. There was still much success for the British soldier and dog to celebrate.
At most of the celebrations attended by invited VIPs the HK DASU Chinese Lion Dance was revealed to the visitors. It was also to serve as good ‘joss’ and after the dazzling display there was always a mouth-watering selection of food laid on for everyone to enjoy. And there was always something for the Unit to celebrate. By 24th September 1990, an impressive fourteen thousand, five hundred and thirty-nine dog assisted captures of illegal immigrants had been recorded since 1979. This figure, once again, reflected the profes- sionalism of the handlers and that the dogs had done their job.34
However, the winds of change were moving in once again and hints of an ending were shared in the Soldier Magazine (August 1990) article Border Duties to End.35
The days of British and Gurkha troops carrying out border duties on the Hong Kong Sino border are numbered with the announcement that the Royal Hong Kong Police are to create a Field Patrol Detachment (FPD) that will assume total responsibility for policing the area by 1993. The first nine kilometre sector of the border, about a third of the total, will be handed over to a company of the FPD in December (1990). In September 1991 and April 1992 further handovers of the other sectors of the border will be made, and by early 1993 the entire border will be manned by the Royal Hong Kong Police. The Army has patrolled the border since 1979 when it was called in to deal with a flood of illegal
immigrants.
Sure enough, December 1990 was the beginning of the end of the Border Detachment when the RHKP took over the Sha Tau Kok. Initially, this did not appear to affect the Detachment as the Police continued to request the presence of the dog teams. However, the respite was short-lived and from 8th September 1991 the Police took over Man Kam To and Pak Fu Shan, which accounted for two thirds of the border, and also Operational control of the border. Consequently, the Border Detachment was then only providing dog teams for the Sandy Spur and Mai Po region. As predicted, the next stage came in April 1992 when the RHKP took over responsibility for the entire border heralding the complete withdrawal of the Army and Border Detachment no longer having any commitment to illegal immigrant Operations.36
Reviewing the figures at this juncture the RAVC reported that over fifteen thousand dog related captures had been recorded. This was testimony to the 11 years of hard toil put in by Chinese handlers.
Sadly, on 31st March 1992, the well-oiled machine that was virtually running itself was on the verge of closure. Six Sweep and two Tracker dog teams were still being deployed daily to the Infantry Border Battalion stationed along the 22-miles of the land border, but that did not interrupt the pre-planned changes scheduled to take effect that day. At 1115 hours, Captain Les Kelly requested 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade Commander for his permission to march the handlers and dogs out of the kennels. With a great deal of pride, the Detachment marched out for the last time.
The final act was the ceremonial locking of the main gates, kindly performed by Brigadier Trousdell, as Major Julia Kneale, Captain Les Kelly and CSM Lai looked on.
According to Captain Kelly, the genuinely final act: “was not the locking of the gates but a return to the kennels and the sinking of a few San Migs, but that’s another story.”37
The Finale
Sadly, the impeding return of Hong Kong to mainland China in 1997 instigated the Unit’s drawdown programme which was to see it reduce in both size and task.
The Border Detachment having already closed in 1992 meant the Unit was now less than two
32 Soldier Magazine dated 6th August 1990.
33 Ibid.
34 Chiron Calling dated December 1990.
35 Soldier Magazine dated 6th August 1990.
36 Chiron Calling December 1991 article ‘The End of an Era’ by Captain Les Kelly RAVC.
37 Chiron Calling October 1992 ‘1st April 1992’ by Captain Les Kelly RAVC.
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