Page 63 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

PLA is on high readiness levels and is prepared cargo vessel also disgorged additional troops Hong Ko ng Garrison
to intervene, a threat made perfectly clear during and vehicles, to boost the size and capability Hong Kong does not rank as a strategic location
the annual rotation of the garrison’s troops and of the garrison. Another first is believed to have for the PLA, though it does hold politically
equipment last August 28. The official Chinese occurred when Mi-171 helicopters landed at symbolic importance. More than two decades
state-run Xinhua News Agency stated that this Shek Kong on August 29. At least three, and ago, the UK handed its colony back to China – it
22nd rotation of troops into Hong Kong was possibly up to seven, Mi-171s allocated to the was July 1, 1997. Since then, it has been important
“a normal routine annual rotation in line with 74th Army Aviation Brigade’s base northwest for the PLA to maintain a garrison there to
the law of the People’s Republic of China on of Guangzhou arrived. This variant has never demonstrate ownership over it. Part of that
garrisoning the Hong Kong Special Administrative been seen in the Hong Kong Garrison before, military presence involves a small contingent
Region”. However, it was anything but normal. though it remains unclear whether they were of PLA helicopters designed to support the
It is typical for night road convoys containing delivering troops temporarily or have become a Hong Kong Garrison. The latter adopts a
tactical and armoured vehicles to cross over the permanent fixture in the troop contingent. If they joint structure with army, navy and air force
border from Shenzhen, and for helicopters to are assigned permanently alongside incumbent elements combined under a single command.
fly in to the former RAF airfield Shek Kong air Changhe Z-8 and Harbin Z-9 helicopters, they The Central Military Commission (CMC) in
base in the New Territories during these annual will offer the PLA much greater airlift capacity Beijing is in direct command of the garrison,
rotations – but this year a conscripted civilian for rapidly moving troops around the territory. but the unit is supervised by the Southern

Above: A closer look at the Chinese-built 23-2Z
cannon mounted on the stub wing of a Z-9WA. A
total of 240 rounds of ammunition are supplied
for each weapon. This armament was first seen in
Hong Kong in mid-2014. Left: Chinese special forces
personnel fast-rope from Z-8KH ‘6303’ in 2018. This
was the first time that the Z-8 had been used in such
a public aerial demonstration in Hong Kong.
Below: A closer view of the Z-8KH as special forces
troops slide down towards the ground. Up to four of
these large helicopters are present in Hong Kong at
any one time. All photos Gordon Arthur

Troubled times

in the Special Administrative Region

www.Key.Aero #383 February 2020 // 61

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