Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force ( RHKAAF ) was an auxiliary unit of the Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.
Although technically speaking, an armed military unit in the ranks of the RAF squadron, she was last seen mainly in the civilian sector in the provision of non-military aviation tasks in the colony involved. These included the support of the police, search and rescue, air ambulance and fire fighting from the air.
History
The RHKAAF was created in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. From 1949 to 1950 she was referred to as Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. The additional title "Royal" was only approved in 1951 by King George VI. The RHKAAF was finally dissolved on 1 April 1993. All non-military operations were taken over from then on by the Government Flying Service ( GFS ), a newly created civilian unit with the original maintenance personnel RHKAAF. The remaining military tasks have been transferred to other RAF units stationed in the colony.
After the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the military functions were transferred to the garrison stationed in Hong Kong Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The RHKAAF was from 1979 to 1993 stationed at Kai Tak Airport and a branch office on the Shek Kong Airfield.
The staff of the RHKAAF were a mix of full-and part -time employees. Most were recruited locally, in recent years, mostly Hong Kong Chinese. The ranks were similar to those of the Royal Air Force.