No shotlist available




Initials ds


NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS: Because the landings will take place at night, Press coverage of the exercise is necessarily limited. However, the following facilities are being made available:
(1) Monday, 24th March. 6.45 a.m. Troops embarking in H.M.S. INTREPID. Press representatives will be met and assisted by Major Keith Hoile, who will be at the main gate of H.M.S. TAMAR by 6.45 a.m.
(2) Tuesday, 25th March. 9.45 p.m. Troops embarking into landing craft and hovercraft at Sham Shui Po Camp. Press representatives should meet Mr Donald Strange at the entrance to 56 Squadron RCT by not later than 9.45 p.m. The entrance to 56 Squadron RCT is the third vehicle gate of Sham Shui Po Camp, on the left hand side of Lai Chi Kok road,about 400 yards past Lai Chi Kok Road police station.
If there are other facilities for the Press, they will be announced in due course.
Distribution: through Government Information Services.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A joint Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force exercise - TRIDENT STAR - will take place on LANTAO ISLAND next week. The exercise, beginning on Monday and ending on Friday will test all three Services in amphibious "landings" and warfare techniques.

The Royal Navy's newest Assault Ship, H.M.S. INTREPID, is to take part, together with the Minesweepers, H.M.S. BOSSINGTON and H.M.S. MAXTON, and the Royal Marines No.2 Special Boat Section.

Army units participating are Headquarters 51 Brigade, 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, 200 Hovercraft Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport, and Gurkha Engineers of 68 Gurkha Independent Field Squadron.

Supporting the "attack" will be Royal Navy and Army helicopters and Hunter fighters of 20 Squadron.

The "landings will be opposed by troops of 2nd Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles, supported by Whirlwind helicopters of No. 28 Squadron, Royal Air Force Kai Tak.

The exercise will be controlled jointly by Brigadier M.E.M.MacWilliam, Deputy Commander Land Forces Hongkong, and Commodore T.W.Stocker, Commodore Amphibious Forces, who will be on board H.M.S. INTREPID with their control staffs.