RAOC Gazette - page 187
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1980 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1980 |
| Late date | 1980 |
| Transcription |
A NEW SUPPLY DEPOT FOR HONG KONG MANY members of the Corps, past and present, will have memories of the Argyle Street Supply Depot in Kowloon. This short article outlines the history of Argyle Street, the move to the new Supply Depot in Osborn Barracks. After liberation in 1945 from the Japanese, the supply organization consisted of No. 1 Base Supply Depot and 531 Supply Platoon, under the command of CRASC. No. 1 Base Supply Depot, commanded by a Major, was located in the Shamshuipo complex (now occupied by Vietnamese refugees). 531 Supply Platoon, commanded by a Captain, was located in Nos. 3 and 4 camps Argyle Street. In early 1957 the Base Supply Depot and Supply Platoon amalgamated to form 3 Supply Depot RASC. In 1961 3 Supply Depot RASC was redesignated Supply and Petroleum Depot RASC. In 1965 just prior to 'McCleod' it was decided, for economic reasons, to suspend the issuing of supplies in the New Territories and Units were to collect their supplies from Argyle Street. On 5th July 1965 all supply personnel were rebadged and 3 Supply and Petroleum Depot RASC became 3 Supply and Petroleum Depot RAOC following the McCleod reorganisation. In 1970 3 Supply and Petroleum Depot changed its title to Supply and Petroleum Sub-Depot and was incorporated within the Composite Ordnance Depot. The Supply and Petroleum Sub-Depot was redesignated Supply Sub-Depot in September 1978. In 1975 plans for the eventual release of Argyle Street Camp to the Hong Kong Government were first outlined and possible sites for a new Supply Depot were explored. Osborn Barracks was finally chosen as it offered the most suitable area from which to serve Units both in the New Territories and Hong Kong Island. Preliminary foundation work began on the site in December 1978 and progress was hampered by an unusually wet and humid initial few months in 1979. It was during this period that the whole world focussed its attention on Hong Kong as the problem of the Vietnamese boat refugees hit the colony. Perhaps a few statistics would help to illustrate the situation at that time. By the beginning of September 1979 Hong Kong had given sanctuary to more than seventy thousand refugees of which only fifteen thousand had been resettled elsewhere. With a total area of only one thousand and fifty six square kilometres and a population of five million people, the overall density is four thousand four hundred and eighty seven people per square kilometre, compared with thirty three in Malaysia and twenty two in the USA. Indeed the Mongkok area of Kowloon has the highest population density in the world—about one hundred Major Ceneral Sir Roy Redgrave officially opens the new Supply Sub-Depot in Osborn Barracks Hong Kong. Lieutenant Colonel Archer watches with eager anticipation! and forty four thousand inhabitants per square kilometre. Forty per cent of the population are under twenty and so an increasing burden will be placed in the future on social services such as housing and education. It was not unexpected, therefore, that any* large tracts of land in the urban area should come under close scrutiny by the Hong Kong Government in early 1979, as possible sites for refugee camps. The Argyle Street camp was an obvious target in this respect and during June pressure was put upon the Com- posite Ordnance Depot to explore a number of alternatives. Firstly, to vacate Argyle Street in total, moving the POL Depot to Borneo Lines, Sek Kong, and the remainder of the Depot to Blackdown Barracks in Choi Hung. Secondly, to move the POL Depot to Borneo Lines and leave the remainder in situ in Argyle Street. The Hong Kong Government finally decided to exercise the second alternative and as a result the POL Depot moved to Borneo Lines over a period of two days! The period June 1979 to February 1980 must be unique in the history of RAOC. The Depot in Argyle Street was surrounded on two sides by refugees with only a double fence to act as a dividing line. Extra works services were required to ensure that health precautions within the Depot were adequate, especially in the fresh issue and compo packing areas. Perimeter lighting was installed and dog patrols were increased to prevent any pilferage. The Hong Kong Government certainly acted quickly, for in a matter of two months what was the POL Depot area was transformed into a hutted camp for fourteen thousand refugees. The new Depot. • The new Depot in Osborn - Barracks was scheduled for completion in November 1979, but the final opening slipped back to 1980. During the move the daunting task of transporting some seven hundred and fifty pallet loads was not helped by the breakdown of one lift and the subsequent bottleneck which occurred on the ground floor. Nevertheless, all the military staff worked magnificently to achieve a task which on paper appeared awesome—yet in practice,finally proved manageable. — r-46 — |
| Book number | R0404 |