People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
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| People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese: | 中國人民解放軍駐香港部隊 | |
| Simplified Chinese: | 中国人民解放军驻香港部队 | |
| Mandarin | ||
| Hanyu Pinyin: | Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Zhù Xiānggǎng Bùduì | |
The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) responsible for defence duties of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was handed over to the PRC in 1997. Prior to the handover, Hong Kong was under British rule, and the defence of Hong Kong was the responsibility of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong.
As a non-sovereign territory, Hong Kong has never had a military force of its own. Residents of Hong Kong are not permitted to serve in the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, whereas they were able to serve in the in the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong prior to 1997. The garrison is headquartered in Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building in Central, Hong Kong.
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[edit] Role in Hong Kong
The Central People's Government (CPG) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 and stationed a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong to manage its defence affairs. Although the garrison has no military significance, the stationing of the PLA troops in the region is a significant symbol of the PRC government's resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. It is also an imperative guarantee for the conservation of state sovereignty and sanctuary and the upholding of the region's long-term prosperity and stability.
The Basic Law provides that the CPG shall be responsible for the defence of Hong Kong and shall bear the expenditure for the garrison. The Basic Law also contains specific provisions on the duties and rules of discipline of the garrison personnel, the judicature and other questions, fundamentally guaranteeing that the Hong Kong Garrison fulfills its defence functions along legal lines. Military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere in the local affairs and the Hong Kong government shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order. Personnel in the Hong Kong Garrison wear uniforms different from PLA personnel in mainland China. The Garrison formally stationed in Hong Kong assumed defence responsibility for Hong Kong immediately as of midnight on 1 July 1997.
The Hong Kong Garrison includes elements of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region.
While performing its defence duties, the Hong Kong Garrison must abide by both national and Hong Kong laws, as well as the current rules and regulations of the PLA. After its entry into Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Garrison abided by the Basic Law and the Garrison Law, actively organising military training. According to the Garrison Law, the Garrison established working contacts with the Hong Kong Government, and opened the barracks on Stonecutters Island and Chek Chu to the public to promote Hong Kongers' understanding of and trust in the garrison troops.
[edit] Command
The Hong Kong Garrison reports to the both the Guangzhou Military Region and Central Military Commission in Beijing, and informs the local Hong Kong Government of any actions within or around the SAR.
The commanders of the Garrions are as follows:
- Lt. Gen. Wang Jitang - Commander of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison
- Maj. Gen. Liu Liangkai - Political commissar of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison
- Senior Col. Chen Xuekui - Commander of the Shenzhen Base of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison
[edit] Navy
The naval presence in Hong Kong is limited to a small fleet of ships rotating from ships from bases in the mainland:
Unit - Naval Squadron (38081)
Bases
- Stonecutter's Island (Ngong Shuen Chau) Naval Base - formerly HMS Tamar
Ships
- 6 Houjian class PGG - The Houjian are large missile boats carry five C-801/YJ-1 anti-ship missiles. 520-ton type 037-2 fast attack craft missiles with a speed of 32kts; based at Stonecutter Island Naval Base
- 2 Type-074 LST - based at Stonecutter Island Naval Base
[edit] Air Force
Like the navy and the former RAF, the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) is limited to a small unit, namely a helicopter support unit and Helicopter Regiment (PLAAF) (39968).
PLA Hong Kong Garrison has three air bases with only one within Hong Kong:
- Shek Kong Airfield
- Shigang Air Base, Guangdong
- Guangzhou Shadi Air Base
All air force personnel are non-Hong Kong residents.
[edit] Fleet
- 12 Z9B helicopters (AS 565 Panther and SA 360 Dauphin 2) - 1 squadron at Shek Kong Airbase
- 22 J8-2 (Jian-8 Fighter aircraft 8)- 1 squadron at Guangdong Airbase; based on MiG-21/J-7 and Ye-152A, it is to be replaced by J8-2M
[edit] Army
Infantry Garrison Brigade (Air Assault) (Unit 53300)
- Formerly 1st Red Regiment of 1st Red Division, 1st Red Army. The 1st Red Regiment was comprised of the 424th regiment, 142nd Division, 48th Army (1949).In 1952, the 142nd Division was assigned to 55th Army and the 424th Regiment renamed the 430th Regiment. In 1970, the 144th Division was renamed as the 163rd Division and 430th Regiment renamed as 487th Regiment.
- 3 infantry battalions
- 1 mechanized infantry battalion
- 1 artillery battery
- 1 engineer battalion
- 1 recon/Special Ops convoy
- 2nd armour convoy
- Logistics Base (Unit 53310) Shenzhou
- Motor Transport Company (Shao Fei)
Bases
- Central Barracks - PLA Army - formerly HMS Tamar
- Shenzhou, China
Troop Strength
- 6000 personnel
Equipment
- 21 WZ551 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (Type 92/90) with 25 mm cannon
- Type 88 5.8 mm sniper rifle
- QBZ-95 (Type 95) 5.8 mm assault automatic rifle
