Hong Kong welcomes 2 PLA Navy vessels for National Day celebrations
Hundreds of students toured warships Qi Jiguang and Yimeng Shan after the vessels sailed into city’s waters on Tuesday for a four-day port call
Hong Kong welcomed two People’s Liberation Army naval vessels that sailed into the city’s waters for a four-day port call as part of National Day celebrations, with hundreds of students boarding the warships for a patriotic education tour.
Training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious landing ship Yimeng Shan arrived at around 8am on Tuesday via Tathong Channel in eastern waters, guided by local marine police vessels and the PLA Hong Kong garrison’s guided-missile frigate Suqian, hull number 666.
The fleet then sailed past the Lei Yue Mun Channel and Victoria Harbour, reaching the waters off Central at around 8.45am, before heading to Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base.
Both warships bore patriotic slogans such as “loving people, protecting Hong Kong, fulfilling original aspirations” and “shouldering the mission, striving to be powerful on the sea”.
On the aft deck of the Qi Jiguang vessel, more than 100 officers and sailors gathered to form the number 76, to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the country.
They also used flag signals to convey the message of “National Security and Family Prosperity” as a way to extend their blessings.
Upon the arrival of the warships at the naval base, a welcoming ceremony was held by representatives of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison. Officers, sailors and trainees of the Qi Jiguang warship disembarked at the pier to lively military music, before engaging in a meet and greet with their local counterparts.