If you are talking about the type designed to be opened with circlip pliers, you could get yourself a pair of those - they aren't expensive, and may save a few knuckles.

Don`t go too cheap though, set I bought some years ago the handles bent as was closing a circlip to remove, very annoying at the time...

No need for circlip pliers for this particular snap-ring, as I said above.

Might be suitable types available, though the type I had in the UK would not have been suitable.

Best case it would still have involved a train trip to Kaoshiung, taken half a day, and cost money.

Would have helped if I read it properly .......