
Earlier this year the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) opened three of its military camps to the public, writes Gordon Arthur.
The Hong Kong Garrison Open Day events revolved around the date of 1st July, this being the anniversary holiday of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

The first PLA 5.8mm calibre improved QBZ95-1 rifles were shown publicly in the Hong Kong Garrison in July 2012 [© GA]
This year JOINT-FORCES.com was able to attend and although each year the Open Days typically repeat what was seen in previous years occasionally new pieces of equipment can be seen, especially as the Hong Kong Garrison is often among the first PLA units to receive new kit as it is rolled out.

This view shows PLA soldiers giving a martial arts performance – the most common martial art form in the PLA synthesises traditional kung fu techniques [© GA]
The Hong Kong Garrison is unique in that it combines PLA Army, Navy and Air Force elements under a single command. Nobody really knows how large the garrison is – even the Hong Kong government claims to be ignorant of the exact number – but it is speculated to contain some 6,000 members; however, not all these troops are based in Hong Kong at any one time.

Serried ranks of Chinese soldiers perform a mass demonstration with Type 95-1 rifles with bayonets affixed [© GA]
It is unclear how many Special Forces personnel are stationed in Hong Kong, but the figure could be around 120. Anti-terrorism duties are one of their key missions, despite the fact that the territory’s law says the first responsibility to deal with a counter-terrorism incident rests with the Hong Kong Police.

Special Forces fast-rope from a Z-8KH helicopter, a unique variant used only by the Hong Kong Garrison and an unauthorised Chinese copy of the French Super Frelon [© GA]
The PLA Navy is also part of the Hong Kong Garrison, and its Stonecutters Island Naval Base hosted open houses on 1st and 2nd July. Here the public could go aboard one of two Type 056 corvettes stationed in Hong Kong, as well as a Type 037-II Houjian-class missile patrol boat and a Type 074 Yuhai-class landing ship.
The Hong Kong Garrison keeps a low profile, and its members are not allowed to exit their camps or to mix with Hong Kong citizens. Furthermore, Hong Kongers are not entitled or permitted to join the ranks of the PLA.
{ images © Gordon Arthur }

Here a team of PLA Special Forces soldiers armed with Type 95 rifles performs a counter-terrorism drill [© GA]

These PLA Special Forces soldiers prepare to storm a terrorist hideout – lead soldier carries a ballistic shield and is armed with a QSL92 semi-automatic 9mm pistol [© GA]

More Chinese soldiers, this time holding QBZ95-1 (QBZ stands for Qing Buqiang Zu or light rifle family) assault rifles that fire a 5.8 x 42mm DBP87 cartridge from a 30-round magazine [© GA]

The PLA operates Dong Feng EQ2050 4×4 vehicles that are obviously copied from the iconic American HMMWV – this vehicle is seen driving over soldiers lying in its path [© GA]

A relatively recent addition to the Hong Kong Garrison is the Dong Feng CSK131 4×4 light armoured vehicle – this 3.7-tonne example has a roof-mounted 12.7mm QJZ89 heavy machine gun [© GA]

The 15.3-tonne ZSL92B (Type 92B) is a 6×6 APC with amphibious capability offering significant firepower thanks to a 30mm cannon, coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and HJ-73D antitank guided missile [© GA]

A Jialing JH600BJ side-car combination powered by a 590cc engine is ridden by a female soldier – note that she has tilted it onto two wheels [© GA]

These soldiers are wearing the four-colour pixellated Type 07 uniform that debuted in Hong Kong in mid-2007 – this is the Special Forces Camo pattern [© GA]