‘I didn’t want to miss it’: Hongkongers see off PLA warships after 5-day port call

Two PLA warships departed Hong Kong on Monday morning, concluding a high-profile five-day port call with a ceremony at the naval base on Stonecutters Island. Dozens of residents and visitors lined waterfront areas for a final glimpse of the guided-missile destroyer Nanning and the guided-missile frigate Hengyang as they sailed through Victoria Harbour and the Tathong Channel in eastern waters. Speaking amid heavy rain at the send-off ceremony, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki expressed gratitude to the nation and the naval task group led by the Nanning. “It was a precious opportunity for residents to see the domestically developed destroyer and appreciate the country’s achievements in defence and the military,” Chan said. He added that the visit had also served as a lesson in patriotism, with visitors learning about naval operations and soldiers’ resilience through interactions during vessel tours. “These interactions will plant the seed of patriotism in young people’s hearts, turning an abstract concept into something tangible,” he said. The Hengyang departed first from Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks at 9.10am, accompanied by a military band as soldiers waved from the dock. Officers aboard the ship waved back in formation from the decks. The Nanning followed at 10.15am after officials delivered a final send-off. Students, lawmakers and district councillors also attended the ceremony to bid farewell to the ships. Lawmaker Christine Fong Kwok-shan said the atmosphere at the outdoor ceremony remained upbeat despite the rain, adding that she hoped for more military visits to bolster the city’s ties with mainland China. “I hope there will be more naval vessels coming to Hong Kong to show our country’s strength and bolster the city’s connection with the country,” Fong said. Form Five student Gigi Chan from Pui Kiu College said the rain made the ceremony even more memorable. “The soldiers still stood firm in the rain, which made me realise that beyond the vessels, the soldiers are also resilient when defending our country,” Chan said. The student added that she hoped to visit a Chinese aircraft carrier in the city during the 30th handover anniversary next year. Koko Tong, another Form Five pupil from Pui Kiu College, said she felt proud to see the vessels and hoped China could continue to scale new heights in military achievement. “I hope there could be more exchanges of this sort. Since it’s not the first time for naval vessels to visit Hong Kong, I hope there can be more opportunities like this,” Tong said. The port call formed part of celebrations marking the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty. The five-day programme included public deck tours, on board receptions and cultural exchanges, with 14,000 free tickets snapped up online within minutes. As the ships sailed past, they sounded their horns one final time, drawing applause from passers-by, many capturing the moment on their phones as the grey hulls moved through Victoria Harbour. Among the crowd was Derrick Leung, a 41-year-old office worker, who took the day off and arrived before 8am to secure a front-row spot along the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront. “I came early because I didn’t want to miss the moment,” he said. After missing out in previous years, Leung secured tickets to visit Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, describing it as a rare chance to view the deck and weapons systems up close. “It was impressive to go on board – you could really feel the scale of operations. It makes you realise the responsibility these officers carry, and we should be grateful for their service,” he said. Zhang Yutong, a 31-year-old PhD student from Heilongjiang studying at City University of Hong Kong, said the visit stirred a sense of pride. “I feel proud because the ships come from our own country,” he said. For others, the departure offered a different perspective after the open days. Wong Mei-ling, a 67-year-old retiree, said she enjoyed exploring the ships and posing with helicopters on deck, and returned to the harbourfront to watch them leave. “On board, everything felt close and detailed,” she said. “Today feels more emotional. Even though it’s raining, I want to see the harbour, the cheers and the ships leaving.” Marcus Chan, a master’s graduate from the University of Hong Kong, was unable to secure open-day tickets but came to the harbourfront on Monday. “Victoria Harbour is iconic, so seeing these large, hi-tech ships here is quite striking,” he said. “It’s a historic moment, so I wanted to record it.” Open-ship events over the weekend gave visitors first-hand insight into advances in China’s national defence and military modernisation. The Nanning, a domestically built guided-missile destroyer, is capable of area air defence, anti-ship strikes and anti-submarine warfare. It has taken part in overseas missions, including anti-piracy escorts in the Gulf of Aden, and was deployed to Sudan in 2023 to evacuate hundreds of Chinese and foreign nationals. The Hengyang, a Jiangkai-class guided-missile frigate, is equipped for surveillance and anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine operations. It has also participated in multiple escort missions in the Gulf of Aden.