Awe, sense of pride as pair of PLA battleships visit HK

Wallis Wang and Marcus Lum

Locals and mainland tourists ignored the dreary weather to happily welcome two People's Liberation Army battleships - the Hainan amphibious assault ship and the Changsha missile destroyer.

The two vessels - on a five-day visit to Hong Kong - were greeted with a water salute from Fire Services Department boats at around 7am yesterday.

The Hainan berthed at China Merchants Wharf at Sai Wan while the Changsha docked at Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base, with sailors on board waving to people on the shore.

It is understood that more than 10,000 people will be invited to the ships for various activities, including a deck reception, onboard visits and cultural exchanges.

"The ship looks small in photos but it is shocking to see it in person," a man in Sai Wan said.

As the weather improved in the afternoon, more people viewed the ship up close, with some bringing long-focus lenses and telescopes.

Zhang, a military enthusiast from Inner Mongolia, said he changed his itinerary and came to see the ships after learning about their visit. He said it was the first time he had seen a battleship up close, adding it was even bigger than he thought.

"I am so excited I'm about to cry as I can feel the improvement in our country's military strength," he said. "I hope Hong Kong compatriots can feel it too."

A visitor from Henan province, Liu, said it was a great opportunity to see the battleships in person.

"We came all the way here and it's surely worth it. We didn't expect that we could get this close to the ship and the seaside view is also great," she said.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu boarded both battleships, saying they play crucial roles in the Chinese navy.

"The Hainan ship is the country's first amphibious assault ship equipped with land, sea and air forces, as well as missiles and naval artillery. It is also able to carry helicopters, hovercraft and armored fighting vehicles," Lee said.

"The Changsha ship is a Chinese-developed missile destroyer which has been regarded as the 'armed escort' of aircraft carrier fleets. The fleet has extraordinary combat capabilities and we are all proud of it."

He said the visit will help the public better understand the Chinese navy's development and strengthen locals' sense of national identity and pride.