People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison

Coordinates: 22°16′54″N 114°09′51″E / 22.2817325°N 114.1641229°E / 22.2817325; 114.1641229

The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for defence duties in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was returned 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. The garrison is headquartered in Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building in Central, Hong Kong. The troop strength of the garrison is about 6,000 personnel.

Role in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army entering Hong Kong for the first time in 1997

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 actual resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

The Basic Law provides that the CPG shall be responsible for the defence of Hong Kong and shall bear the expenditure for the garrison, whereas the colonial Hong Kong Government before 1997 had to pay for the military. The Garrison Law, subsequently enacted by the National People's Congress, contains specific provisions on the duties and rules of discipline of the garrison personnel, jurisdiction and other questions, to facilitate the Hong Kong Garrison in fulfilling 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. The Garrison formally stationed in Hong Kong assumed defence responsibility for Hong Kong starting 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 the 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 abide 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 Stanley to the public to promote Hong Kong people's understanding of and trust in the garrison troops.

Insignia

Personnel in the Hong Kong Garrison wore uniforms different from their mainland counterparts until a new set of uniforms were introduced in 2007. Motor vehicles in the military are right-hand drive, like civilian vehicles in Hong Kong, and carry number plates that start with ZG, standing for zhugang (駐港), Chinese for "stationed in Hong Kong."

Commander's Residence

Commander's Residence is located at 11 Barker Road. Formerly known as Headquarters House, it was home to the Commander-in-Chief of British Forces from 1978 to 1997 and replaced the old Headquarter House or Flagstaff House c. 1840s.

A private road from Barker Road is used to access the home but is off limits to those without security clearance.

The residence is near two other official residences, Chief Secretary for Administration at 15 Barker Road and Secretary for Justice at 19 Severn Road.

Command

People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison headquarter building

The Hong Kong Garrison reports to both the Guangzhou Military Region and Central Military Commission in Beijing, and informs Hong Kong Government of any actions within or around Hong Kong.

Garrison Commanders

1. Major General Liu Zhenwu 1997–1999
2. Lieutenant General Xiong Ziren 1999–2004
3. Lieutenant General Wang Jitang 2004–2008
4. Lieutenant General Zhang Shibo 2008–2012
5. Lieutenant General Wang Xiaojun 2012–2014
6. Lieutenant General Tan Benhong 2014–present

Political Commissars

1. Lieutenant General Xiong Ziren
2. Lieutenant General Wang Yufa
3. Major General Liu Liangkai
4. Lieutenant General Zhang Rucheng
5. Lieutenant General Liu Liangkai, second term
6. Lieutenant General Wang Zengbo
7. Major General Yue Shixin

Army

Regiments/Units

• Infantry Garrison Brigade. (Air Assault) (Unit 53300)

Formerly the 1st Red Regiment of 1st Red Division, 1st Red Army. In 1949, the regiment comprised the 424th Regiment, 142nd Division, 48th Army. 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. (Air Assault/Heliborne)
• 1 mechanised infantry battalion.
• 1 artillery battery.
• 1 engineer battalion.
• 1 recon/Special Ops company. (named 5-min Response Unit, some of them later transferred to the Macau Garrison to form the a new Quick Reaction Platoon there)
• 1 intelligence gathering battalion.
• 1 Armour Convoy.
• 1 Logistics Base, Shenzhou. (Unit 53310)
• 1 Motor Transport Company, Shao Fei.

Bases

Bases within Hong Kong are former British facilities namely from the British Army:

• Central Barracks – PLA Army – formerly HMS Tamar.
• Ching Yi To Barracks – formerly part of Victoria Barracks and renamed from Queens's Lines Barracks

• Kowloon East Barracks – formerly Osborn Barracks
• Stanley Barracks – PLA Army – home of 5-min Response Unit.
  • Chek Chue Barracks
• Western Barracks – 88 Bonham Road – formerly Bonham Tower Barracks
• Stonecutter Barracks – PLA Navy.
• Shek Kong Airfield, Sek Kong Barracks – PLA Air Force.
  • Northern Compound – formerly Borneo Lines
  • Southern Compound – formerly Malaya Lines
• San Tin Barracks – formerly Cassino Lines
• Tam Mei Barracks – Ngau Tam Mei in Yuen Long
• Gallipoli Lines – Sha Tau Kok Road in Fanling.
  • San Wai/Tai Ling Range
• Gun Club Hill Barracks – home to PLA Garrison Hospital
• Shenzhou, China.

Equipment

• Although cosmetically similar to the BMW single cylinder F650 and G650 models, in all important aspects (motor, sub-frame, suspension, controls) the JH600 is a unique design.

Navy

The naval presence in Hong Kong is a limited sub-station with a small flotilla of ships rotating from bases in the mainland:

Squadrons

• Squadron 38081 – a naval squadron of the South Sea Fleet.

Bases

• Stonecutter's Island (Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base) – formerly HMS Tamar.
• Tai O Barracks, Shek Tsai Po – formerly Naval Coastal Observation Station, Tai O

Fleet

Air Force

Units

• 1 helicopter squadron (PLAAF # 39968) at local Shek Kong Airbase.
• 1 fighter squadron at Guangdong Airbase.

Bases

PLA Hong Kong Garrison has three air bases with only one within Hong Kong:

• Shek Kong Airfield.
• Shadi Air Base, west of Guangzhou, Guangdong.
• Shigang Air Base, Guangdong.
• Joint Movement Unit, Chek Lap Kok – Hong Kong International Airport

Aircraft Inventory

A Z-8KH of PLAAF

See also

• Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building
• People's Liberation Army Macau Garrison

External links and references

Wikimedia Commons has media related to People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison.

• PLA in Hong Kong
• PLA in Hong Kong – China Defence
• PLA Ground Force Equipment
• PLA Navy Equipment
• PLAAF Equipment
• Houjian-Class Description

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