| Shek Kong Airfield 石崗機場 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: VHSK | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military/Civilian | ||
| Owner | PLAAF | ||
| Operator | PLAAF | ||
| Serves | Sek Kong | ||
| Location | Hong Kong | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 50 ft / 15 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Map | |||
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Shek Kong Airfield
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 11/29 | 6,250 | 1,905 | Paved |
The Shek Kong Airfield (Chinese: 石崗機場), ICAO:VHSK), formerly RAF Sek Kong/Sek Kong Airfield, is an airbase located in Shek Kong of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Currently, the airbase houses units of People's Liberation Army Air Force as well as being open for civilian use during weekends.
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Before the British handover of Hong Kong back to China in 1997, the airbase was used by the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong, and was then an Royal Air Force station known as RAF Sek Kong. Construction of the airbase started in 1938, and was completed only in 1950 due to the delay caused by Japanese occupation during the World War 2.
From the mid 1980s to 1992, RAF Sek Kong was also a Vietnamese Refugee Detention Centre.
During weekends, the general public are allowed to use the airport for operation of private airplanes and to conduct private flight training.
The RAF operated a small and limited force from 1950 to 1996, but they were temporary assignments from the UK. The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was the only permanent air force unit in Hong Kong.
A partial list of RAF squadrons stations before 1997:
A list of RAF aircraft stationed at Sek Kong:
| Builder/Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| de Havilland Hornet | naval fighter | 1951-1955 | No 80. RAF | |
| Westland Wessex | helicopter | 1978-1996 | No. 28 RAF | |
| de Havilland Vampire | fighter | 1951-1954 | ||
| Supermarine Spitfires F.24 | fighter | 1949-1951 | No 80 RAF |
With a Vietnamese refuge camp using the runway from 1982 to 1992, the base hosted rotary aircraft only after 1982.
The British Army also operated a small air unit in Hong Kong for training and other operations:
| Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | RL tipper truck | 1980s-1990s | ||
| Gurkha Transport Regiment | Tank transporters | 1980s-1990s |
Beginning in 1982, the base was also a refugee centre for Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong. At the peak in 1992, the centre hosted 9000 refugees.[1] During the time as a refugee centre, the runway was closed and used for temporary housing (mainly tents). As a result, only rotary aircraft operated from the base. The refugee centre closed in 1993 and the runway restored for use by fixed wing aircraft.
The PLAAF has a small presence in Hong Kong since 1997. There is only 1 PLA unit stationed in Sek Kong:
| Builder/Model | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAMC Harbin Z-9B | Utility helicopters | 12 | 1997-present |
The PLA ground and naval forces also use Sek Kong, mainly for training and Opening Day use.
With the PLAAF operating helicopters, the runway is mostly used for civilian fixed wing aircraft.