Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base
| Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base | |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong; Stonecutter's Island | |
| Coordinates | 22°19′20″N 114°8′10″E / 22.32222°N 114.13611°ECoordinates: 22°19′20″N 114°8′10″E / 22.32222°N 114.13611°E |
| Type | Naval base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1997 |
| In use | 1997 – Present |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Major General Zhang Shibo |
| Garrison | People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison, South Sea Fleet, Guangzhou Military Region (Guangzhou Military Area Command) |
Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base is part of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison and small naval base in Hong Kong. It is home to the South Sea Fleet Squadron # 38081 and sub-base to the naval squadron of the South Sea Fleet. The area surrounding the base is off limits to civilian ship traffic.[1]
History
The naval base was built by the contractors during the handover period in 1996–1997 and one of a few military installations that was not transferred from the British. The naval base is located on the South Shore of the former Stonecutter's Island and located south of the former HMS Tamar (now a Government Dockyard). Most of the facility was created from dredging and in-fill project in the early 1990s in anticipation of the move of Tamar and the handover. The older buildings and recreation facilities were inherited from the Hong Kong Military Service Corps. Many buildings in the base date to the 1930s, but some are as far back as the 1870s.
A list of historic buildings at the naval facility:
- Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
- Lido - recreation facilities including a pool
- Building # 31 - South Shore
- Building # 23 (old Fire Station) - South Shore
- Building # 25 - South Shore
- Ferry Waiting Room
- Shaffies Curry House - South Shore
- Old Military Prison
- Colchester Road
- Didcot Road
- Upside-Down House (#24 South Shore)
- Ammunition Depot and Bunkers
- Sub Ammo Depot
- Married Quarters
- LEP/HKMSC Medical Centre
- Barracks #25 - built 1905
- Old Centurion Battery
- Western Battery
- Eastern Battery
- Watch Towers
- South Shore Gun Battery
- Arnament Depot
- Officer's Mess
- Old Watch Tower 1870
- Wuthering Height's Quarters
- St Barbara's Garrison Church
- East Pier
- Transmitting Station
- Receiving Station
- Central Battery
Roads within the base once had British names, but they have since been dropped:
- Colchester Road
- Didcot Road
The most high profile visitor to the base was Hu Jintao in 2007.
Ships
Various ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy visit the base, but only a few ships remain on semi-permanent basis.
| Class or name | Builder | Type | Quantity | Year Entered Service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houjian class | Huangpu Shipyard, Guangzhou  People's Republic of China | missile boat | 6 | 1990s | carries five C-801/YJ-1 anti-ship missiles, 1 twin 37 mm Anti-aircraft guns and 2 twin 30 mm cannons |
| Type 074 Yuhai (Wuhu-A) class | Wuhu Shipyard of Wuhu, Anhui People's Republic of China | Medium Landing Ship | 2 | 1995–2000 | Two 25 mm guns |
Facilities
Like the last HMS Tamar, Ngong Shuen Chau is a low-frills and low key naval facility.
Access to the base is made via Chi Ngong Road, but access into the naval yard is restricted and surrounding areas fenced off. A heavily wooded area to the north protects the base from unwanted visitors.
- basin and concrete berthing facility
- naval barracks
- exercise track
- parade grounds
- numerous low-rise naval buildings
- Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base Theatre[2]
During the summer months the base is open to the public, but otherwise closed during most of the year.[3]
See also
- HMS Tamar - name of former British naval base on Hong Kong Island and at Stonecutters Island (see Government Dockyard).
References
- ↑ "CAP 313A Shipping and Port Control Regulations Schedule 5 Restricted Areas, etc.". Hong Kong Legal Information Institute. 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ↑ "Hong Kong Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base Theatre". macostar.com. 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
- ↑ "Hong Kong citizens visit Naval Base of PLA Garrison". The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. September 19, 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2012.