Hong Kong Garrison
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| People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison | |
|---|---|
| 中國人民解放軍駐香港部隊 | |
 Sleeve insignia of PLA Ground Force units of the Hong Kong Garrison | |
| Founded | 1 July 1997 |
| Country | |
| Allegiance |  Chinese Communist Party |
| Branch | |
| Size | 10,000 to 12,000[1] |
| Part of | Southern Theater Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building 22°16′54″N 114°09′51″E / 22.2817325°N 114.1641229°E |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Major General Peng Jingtang |
| Political Commissar[3] | Major General Cai Yongzhong[2] |
| Chinese 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 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | China People Liberation Army stationing Hong Kong Troops | ||||||||||
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The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for defence duties in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) since the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.
The garrison is headquartered in Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building in Central, Hong Kong. The size of the Hong Kong garrison is approximately 10,000–12,000 personnel, including members of the People's Armed Police, People's Liberation Army Navy, People's Liberation Army Air Force, and People's Liberation Army Ground Force.[4]
Prior to the handover in 1997, the territory was under British rule, and the defence of the territory was the responsibility of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong, with auxiliary help from the Royal Hong Kong Regiment.
Role in Hong Kong
[edit]The People's Republic of China (PRC) assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 and the Central People's Government (CPG) stationed a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong to manage the defense affairs of the territory. While the garrison has been considered primarily symbolic of Beijing's governance over Hong Kong, it is nevertheless asserted to be a combat-ready force.[5]
The Basic Law upon the territory provides that the CPG shall be responsible for the defense 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 from midnight onwards 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 Southern Theater Command.
While performing its defense 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, according to the Garrison Law, a PRC law. After its entry into Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Garrison abide by the Basic Law and the Garrison Law, actively organizing 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 forces and their personnel. Annual open house events are held to showcase the assets and combat readiness of the garrison personnel. Garrison troop rotations are also routine.[6][7]
In early 2022, Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping, appointed Major General Peng Jingtang, a former People's Armed Police paramilitary commander, to lead the PLA garrison in Hong Kong.[8]
Insignia
[edit]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 zhùgǎng (驻港/駐港), Chinese for "[stationed] in Hong Kong."
Command
[edit]
The Hong Kong Garrison reports to both the Southern Theater Command and Central Military Commission in Beijing, and informs Hong Kong Government of any actions within or around Hong Kong.
- Garrison Commanders
- Lt. General Liu Zhenwu 1997–1999 (appointed 1994)
- Lt. General Xiong Ziren 1999–2003[9]
- Lt. General Wang Jitang 2003–2007
- Lt. General Zhang Shibo 2007–2012
- Lt. General Wang Xiaojun 2012–2014
- Lt. General Tan Benhong 2014–2019
- Maj. General Chen Daoxiang 2019–2022
- Maj. General Peng Jingtang 2022–present
- Political Commissars
- Maj. General Xiong Ziren 1997–1999
- Maj. General Wang Yufa 1999–2003
- Maj. General Liu Liangkai 2003–2005
- Lt. General Zhang Rucheng 2005–2007
- Lt. General Liu Liangkai 2007–2010, second term
- Lt. General Wang Zengbo 2010–2012
- Lt. General Yue Shixin 2012–2018
- Maj. General Cai Yongzhong 2018–present
Properties
[edit]There are 19 sites occupied by the Garrison across Hong Kong. According to a Reuters investigation, many of these sites are run down and not fully utilised, which has caused some to argue that the land should be returned and used for housing.[10] The Tsing Shan firing range occupies approximately 80% of the 2,750 hectares of land managed by the PLA.[11][12]
A secret 20th site is a radar facility in Tai Mo Shan, which was discovered in 2014, without the PLA informing the public, as required by the Garrison Law.[13] It was not publicly recognized by the Hong Kong government until 2021.[14]
The Commander lives on The Peak at Headquarters House, 11 Barker Road. Other property owned by the Garrison includes the United Services Recreation Club.
Army
[edit]Regiments/Units
[edit]- 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.
- PLA Hong Kong Garrison Honour Guard Battalion
- 3 infantry battalions (Air Assault/Heliborne)
- 1 mechanized infantry battalion
- 1 artillery battery
- 1 engineer battalion
- 1 reconnaissance/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, Shenzhen. (Unit 53310)[15]
- 1 Motor Transport Company, Shao Fei
Bases
[edit]Bases within Hong Kong are former British facilities namely from the British Army:
- Central Barracks – PLA Ground Force – formerly HMS Tamar
- Ching Yi To Barracks – formerly part of Victoria Barracks and renamed from Queen's Lines Barracks
- Kowloon East Barracks – formerly Osborn Barracks
- Stanley Barracks – PLA Ground Force – 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, Shek 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, formerly San Wai Camp
- San Wai/Tai Ling Range
- Burma Lines - also known as Queen's Hill Camp
- Gun Club Hill Barracks Kowloon – home to PLA Garrison Hospital
Equipment
[edit]| Model | Type | Number | Dates | Manufacturer | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 92 | 6 wheeled armored personnel carrier | 21 | 1980s | Norinco | With 12.7mm machine gun |
| Type 56C | 7.62 mm assault rifle | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| Type 88 | 5.8 mm sniper rifle | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| CS/LR4 | 7.62 mm sniper rifle | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| QBZ-191 | 5.8 mm automatic assault rifle | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| QBZ-95 | 5.8 mm automatic assault rifle | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| QBZ-03 | 5.8 mm automatic assault rifle | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| QCW-05 | submachine gun | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| Type 87 grenade launcher | grenade launcher | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| Type 95 Squad Machine Gun | Light machine gun | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| Type 92 pistol | pistol | N/A | N/A | Norinco | |
| Jiefang CA-30 | utility truck | N/A | N/A | First Automotive Works, Changchun | |
| Dongfeng EQ2050 | Military light utility vehicle | N/A | 2010 | Chinese copy of HMMWV | |
| JH600 Duke | motorcycle | N/A | N/A | Jialing |
Navy
[edit]The naval presence in Hong Kong is a limited sub-station with a small flotilla of ships rotating from bases in the mainland China:
Squadrons
[edit]- Squadron 38081 – a naval squadron of the South Sea Fleet
Bases
[edit]- 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
[edit]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 | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 056 Jiangdao class | Huangpu Shipyard, Guangzhou, Guangdong | Corvette | 2 | 2013 | 596 惠州 / Huizhou
597 钦州 / Qinzhou
|
|
| Type 074-II Yuhai class | Wuhu Shipyard of Wuhu, Anhui | Medium Landing Ship | 3 | 2017-8 | 3357, 3358, and 3359
Two 25 mm guns |
|
| Type 721 | Guangxi Guiyang shipyard | Light transport boat | 2 | 1990s | 42 meters long, 8.8 meters wide and 2.14 meters tall. It has a full displacement of 140 tons, a speed of 33 knots and a maximum range of 300 nautical miles. It can carry 70 people and 2 tons of materials. | 
|
Air Force
[edit]
Units
[edit]- 1 helicopter squadron (PLAAF # 39968) at local Shek Kong Airbase
- 1 fighter squadron at Guangdong Airbase
Bases
[edit]PLA Hong Kong Garrison has three airbases, with two of these within Hong Kong:
- Shek Kong Airfield, Hong Kong
- Shadi Air Base, west of Guangzhou, Guangdong
- Joint Movement Unit, Chek Lap Kok – Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
Aircraft Inventory
[edit]| Aircraft | Country of Manufacture | Type | In Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbin Z-9 | China | utility helicopter | 12 – at Shek Kong Airfield | upgraded variant of AS 565 Panther and SA 360 Dauphin 2 |
| Changhe Z-8KH | China | search and rescue helicopter | 4 – at Shek Kong Airfield | Licensed version of Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Exclusive: China has doubled troop levels in Hong Kong, envoys estimate". Reuters. 30 September 2019.
- ^ "Chinese army promotes new political commissar at Hong Kong garrison". South China Morning Post. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ "Information Note: The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" (PDF). Legislative Council Secretariat, Hong Kong. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2018. para. 2.6.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "China quietly doubles troop levels in Hong Kong, envoys say". Reuters. 30 September 2019.
- ^ Gan, Nectar; Cheung, Tony (17 June 2017). "Hong Kong's PLA garrison no longer just symbolic, top brass say". South China Morning Post.
- ^ Adam Taylor. (29 August 2019). "China's garrison in Hong Kong closely watches as protests churn on". Washington Post website Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ South China Morning Post Staff. (26 August 2021). "Hong Kong PLA garrison completes 24th annual troop rotation". Global Herald website Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Reuters staff. (10 January 2022). "China names former paramilitary chief as HK garrison commander". Al Jazeera website Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "New Commander of PLA Garrison in HK Appointed".
- ^ "Hong Kong's underused military land a potential goldmine: but a minefield for government". Reuters. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ Chen, Frank (3 July 2018). "PLA urged to release land to combat HK's housing shortage". Asia Times. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "PLA land offers range of sites for housing". South China Morning Post. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- ^ "LCQ9: Military sites". www.info.gov.hk. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- ^ "保安局首認大帽山解放軍雷達站屬防務用途 用於設置通訊裝置 (14:48) - 20210109 - 港聞". 明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ 驻香港部队幼儿园. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
External links
[edit]
- Hong Kong Garrison on Weibo (in Chinese) (in Chinese)
- PLA in Hong Kong
- PLA in Hong Kong – China Defence [permanent dead link]
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