Onlookers have gathered on both sides of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour to welcome two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval vessels that sailed into the city’s waters for a four-day port call as part of National Day celebrations.
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Training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious landing ship Yimeng Shan arrived at around 7am on Tuesday via Tathong Channel in the eastern seawater area, guided by local marine police vessels and the PLA Hong Kong garrison’s guided-missile frigate Suqian with the hull number 666.
The fleet then sailed past the Lei Yue Mun Channel and Victoria Harbour, reaching the waters off Central at around 8.45am, before heading to Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base.
At 9am, the Government Flying Service also conducted a formation flypast above the Harbour, carrying national and city flags, as part of the National Day celebration activities.
Victor Wu, a 30-year-old military hardware enthusiast from Zhuhai, was among dozens of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the two PLA ships at the Tsim Sha Tsui Harbourfront.
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“I am quite emotional and I am quite happy,” he said. “My interest is in military equipment, so seeing these things makes me very happy.”