BEIJING, July 3 -- On Thursday, a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) naval task force composed of aircraft carrier Shandong (Hull 17), guided-missile destroyers Yan'an (Hull 106) and Zhanjiang (Hull 165), and guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Hull 571) arrived in Hong Kong, with carrier-borne fighter jets and marines aboard, starting a five-day visit. The task force was welcomed with a grand ceremony held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks.
This marks the Chinese PLA Navy's advanced main combat vessels' third visit to Hong Kong, following the visit of aircraft carrier Liaoning (Hull 16) task force in 2017 and the visit of warships Hainan (Hull 31) and Changsha (Hull 173) in last November. It is also the first visit to Hong Kong by China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier the Shandong and the Type 055 10,000-ton-class destroyer.
From July 4 to 6, the Shandong (Hull 17) will be anchored at the Western Anchorage in Victoria Harbor , while the Zhanjiang (Hull 165) and the Yuncheng (Hull 571) will be docked at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks port. The warships will be open to Hong Kong residents, students, and other groups, featuring military experience activities, training demonstrations, and interactive lectures.
