People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison

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People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison

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

The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is 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. Due to the division of powers under the "One Country, Two Systems" scheme, residents of Hong Kong are not permitted to serve in the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, whereas they were able to serve in the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong prior to 1997.[citation needed] The garrison is headquartered in Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building in Central, Hong Kong. The troop strength at the garrison is about 6000 personnel.

Contents

[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

Central Barracks, location of the local garrison of the PLA.
Central Barracks, location of the local garrison of the PLA.

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.

The commanders of the Garrions are as follows:

[edit] Navy

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

[edit] Squadrons

South Sea Fleet Squadron 38081 - a naval squadron of the South Sea Fleet

[edit] Bases

[edit] Fleet

Class or name Builder Type Quantity Year Entered Service Details
Houjian class Huangpu Shipyard, Guangzhou Flag of the People's Republic of China 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 Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China Medium Landing Ship 2 1995-2000 Two 25 mm guns

[edit] Air Force

[edit] Units

[edit] Bases

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

[edit] Aircraft

Aircraft Country of Manufacture Type In Service Notes
Harbin Z-9B Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China Attack Helicopter 12 - at Sek Kong Airfield upgraded variant of AS 565 Panther and SA 360 Dauphin 2
Shenyang J-8II Finback Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China jet fighter 22 at Shadi Air Base to be replaced by the more advanced J-8IIM Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

[edit] Army

[edit] Regiments/Units

Infantry Garrison Brigade (Air Assault) (Unit 53300)

Formerly 1st Red Regiment of 1st Red Division, 1st Red Army. The 1st Red Regiment comprised 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 (Air Assault/Heliborne)
  • 1 mechanized 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)
  • Intelligence gathering battalion
  • 2nd armour convoy
  • Logistics Base (Unit 53310) Shenzhou
  • Motor Transport Company (Shao Fei)

[edit] Bases

[edit] Equipment

Model Type Number Dates Builder Details
ZFB91 6 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (Internal Security/Anti-Riot Vehicle) 21 1980s Norinco,Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China with 12.7mm [[machine gun[[
Type 88 5.8 mm sniper rifle N/A Norinco Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
QBZ-95 (Type 95) 5.8 mm automatic assault rifle N/A Norinco, Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
Jiefang CA-30 utility trucks N/A N/A First Automobile Works, Changchun, Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
QBZ-03 rifle N/A Norinco, Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China
QCW-05 rifle N/A Norinco, Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

[edit] External links and references