View source for Hong Kong Garrison

{{Short description|Garrison of the People's Liberation Army}}
{{for|the former British garrison|British Forces Overseas Hong Kong}}
{{Multiple issues|{{Expand Chinese|date=May 2022|topic=mil}}
{{Original research|date=December 2020}}
{{more footnotes|date=February 2013}}|collapsed=yes}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = People's Liberation Army<br>Hong Kong Garrison
| native_name                   = {{noitalic|{{lang|zh-Hant|中国人民解放军驻香港部队}}}}
| image                         = PLA Hong Kong Garrison sleeve insignia.png
| image_size                    = 150px
| caption                       = Sleeve insignia of PLA Ground Force<br>units of the Hong Kong Garrison
| country                       = {{tree list}}
* {{flag|China}}
** {{flag|Hong Kong}}
{{tree list/end}}
| allegiance                    = {{CCP flag}}
| start_date                    = {{start date and age|df=y|1997|7|1}}
| branch                        = {{plainlist|
* {{army|China|name=PLA Ground Force|size=23px}}
* {{navy|China|name=PLA Navy|size=23px}}
* {{air force|China|name=PLA Air Force|size=23px}}
}}
| command_structure             = [[Southern Theater Command]]
| garrison                      = [[Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building]]<br />{{Coord|22.2817325|114.1641229|display=it}}
| commander1                    = [[Jiang (rank)|Major General]] [[Peng Jingtang]]
| commander1_label              = Commander
| commander2                    = [[Jiang (rank)|Major General]] [[Cai Yongzhong]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2146280/chinese-army-promotes-new-political-commissar-hong-kong |title = Chinese army promotes new political commissar at Hong Kong garrison |website = South China Morning Post |access-date = 2018-06-24 |date = 16 May 2018 }}</ref>
| commander2_label              = Political Commissar<ref>{{cite web |title = Information Note: The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army |url = http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/sec/library/1011in04-e.pdf |publisher = Legislative Council Secretariat, Hong Kong |access-date = 21 January 2018 |postscript = . para.&nbsp;2.6. |archive-date = 12 October 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191012130802/https://legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/english/sec/library/1011in04-e.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>
| size                          = 10,000 to 12,000<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-army-hongkong-military-exclusiv/exclusive-china-has-doubled-troop-levels-in-hong-kong-envoys-estimate-idUSKBN1WF0YU|title=Exclusive: China has doubled troop levels in Hong Kong, envoys estimate|newspaper=Reuters|date=30 September 2019}}</ref>
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
| t = 中國人民解放軍駐香港部隊
| s = 中国人民解放军驻香港部队
| l = China People Liberation Army stationing Hong Kong Troops
| p = Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Zhù Xiānggǎng Bùduì
| j = zung<sup>1</sup>gwok<sup>3</sup> jan<sup>4</sup>man<sup>4</sup> gaai<sup>2</sup>fong<sup>3</sup>gwan<sup>1</sup> zyu<sup>3</sup> hoeng<sup>1</sup>gong<sup>2</sup> bou<sup>6</sup>deoi<sup>2</sup>
}}

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 regions of China|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]].<ref>{{cite news|date=September 30, 2019|title=China quietly doubles troop levels in Hong Kong, envoys say|newspaper=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/china-army-hongkong/}}</ref>

Prior to the handover in 1997, the territory was under [[British Hong Kong|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 ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Hkgarrison.jpg|left|thumb|The Hong Kong Garrison of the [[People's Liberation Army]] entering Hong Kong for the first time in 1997]] -->

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.<ref name="SCMP">{{cite news |title = Hong Kong's PLA garrison no longer just symbolic, top brass say |newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]] |url = http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2098721/hong-kongs-pla-garrison-no-longer-just-symbolic-top |first1=Nectar |last1=Gan |first2=Tony |last2=Cheung |date=June 17, 2017 }}</ref>

The [[Basic Law of Hong Kong|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]], [[People's Liberation Army Navy|PLA Navy]], and [[People's Liberation Army Air Force|PLA Air Force]]; these forces are under the direct leadership of the [[Central Military Commission (China)|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 of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|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 [[Government of Hong Kong|Hong Kong Government]], and opened the barracks on [[Stonecutters Island]] and [[Stanley, Hong Kong|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.<ref>Adam Taylor. (29 August 2019). "China's garrison in Hong Kong closely watches as protests churn on". [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/08/29/amid-hong-kong-protests-garrison-troop-rotation-raises-fears-about-chinese-military/ Washington Post website] Retrieved 10 January 2022.</ref><ref>South China Morning Post Staff. (26 August 2021). "Hong Kong PLA garrison completes 24th annual troop rotation". [https://theglobalherald.com/news/hong-kong-pla-garrison-completes-24th-annual-troop-rotation/ Global Herald website] Retrieved 10 January 2022.</ref> 

In early 2022, [[Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)|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.<ref>Reuters staff. (10 January 2022). "China names former paramilitary chief as HK garrison commander". [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/10/china-names-former-paramilitary-chief-as-hk-garrison-commander Al Jazeera website] Retrieved 9 January 2022.</ref>

== Insignia ==
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 '''z'''hù'''g'''ǎng ({{lang|zh-Hant-HK|驻港/駐港}}), Chinese for "[stationed] in Hong Kong."

== Command ==
[[File:Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building.JPG|thumb|People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison headquarters]]

The Hong Kong Garrison reports to both the [[Southern Theater Command]] and [[Central Military Commission (China)|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<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.people.cn/200301/24/print20030124_110677.html|title = New Commander of PLA Garrison in HK Appointed}}</ref>
* 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 ==
{{Main|Property owned by the Central People's Government in Hong Kong#PLA Hong Kong Garrison}}

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-property-pla-idUSKBN1EE0IC|title=Hong Kong's underused military land a potential goldmine: but a minefield for government|date=2017-12-22|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-04-21|language=en}}</ref> The [[Castle Peak, Hong Kong|Tsing Shan]] [[firing range]] occupies approximately 80% of the 2,750 hectares of land managed by the PLA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asiatimes.com/2018/07/pla-urged-to-release-land-to-counter-hks-housing-shortage/|title=PLA urged to release land to combat HK's housing shortage|last=Chen|first=Frank|date=2018-07-03|website=Asia Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2153493/pla-land-offers-range-sites-housing|title=PLA land offers range of sites for housing|date=2018-07-03|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>
[[File:Tai Mo Shan 4.jpg|thumb|There are three sets of spherical radar equipment on the top of the mountain. From left to right, they belong to the [[Hong Kong Observatory]], the People's Liberation Army, and the [[Civil Aviation Department (Hong Kong)|Civil Aviation Department]].]]
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LCQ9: Military sites|url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201410/29/P201410290496.htm|website=www.info.gov.hk|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> It was not publicly recognized by the Hong Kong government until 2021.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20210109/s00001/1610175914443/%e4%bf%9d%e5%ae%89%e5%b1%80%e9%a6%96%e8%aa%8d%e5%a4%a7%e5%b8%bd%e5%b1%b1%e8%a7%a3%e6%94%be%e8%bb%8d%e9%9b%b7%e9%81%94%e7%ab%99%e5%b1%ac%e9%98%b2%e5%8b%99%e7%94%a8%e9%80%94-%e7%94%a8%e6%96%bc%e8%a8%ad%e7%bd%ae%e9%80%9a%e8%a8%8a%e8%a3%9d%e7%bd%ae |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623013734/https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%E6%B8%AF%E8%81%9E/article/20210109/s00001/1610175914443/%E4%BF%9D%E5%AE%89%E5%B1%80%E9%A6%96%E8%AA%8D%E5%A4%A7%E5%B8%BD%E5%B1%B1%E8%A7%A3%E6%94%BE%E8%BB%8D%E9%9B%B7%E9%81%94%E7%AB%99%E5%B1%AC%E9%98%B2%E5%8B%99%E7%94%A8%E9%80%94-%E7%94%A8%E6%96%BC%E8%A8%AD%E7%BD%AE%E9%80%9A%E8%A8%8A%E8%A3%9D%E7%BD%AE |archive-date=2021-06-23 |accessdate=2021-03-22 |work=明報新聞網 - 即時新聞 instant news |language=zh-hant |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Commander lives on [[Victoria Peak|The Peak]] at [[Headquarters House (Hong Kong)|Headquarters House]], 11 Barker Road. Other property owned by the Garrison includes the [[United Services Recreation Club]].

== Army ==
=== Regiments/units ===
* 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 [[Macao Garrison|Macau Garrison]] to form the a new [[Quick Reaction Platoon]] there)
* 1 intelligence gathering battalion
* 1 Armour Convoy
* 1 Logistics Base, Shenzhen. (Unit 53310)<ref>{{cite web |script-title = zh:驻香港部队幼儿园 |url = http://www.5210601.com/thread-28896-1-1.html |access-date = 14 January 2019 |archive-date = 14 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190114054520/http://www.5210601.com/thread-28896-1-1.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>
* 1 Motor Transport Company, Shao Fei

=== Bases ===
Bases within Hong Kong are former British facilities namely from the [[British Army]]:
* [[Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building#History|Central Barracks]] – [[PLA Ground Force]] – formerly [[HMS Tamar (shore station)|HMS ''Tamar'']]
* [[Ching Yi To Barracks]] – formerly part of [[Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong|Victoria Barracks]] and renamed from Queen's Lines Barracks
* [[Kowloon East Barracks]] – formerly [[Osborn Barracks]]
* [[Stanley Fort|Stanley Barracks]] – [[PLA Ground Force]] – home of 5-min Response Unit
**Chek Chue Barracks
* Western Barracks –  88 [[Bonham Road]]– formerly Bonham Tower Barracks
* [[Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base|Stonecutter Barracks]] – [[People's Liberation Army Ground Force|PLAGF]] and [[People's Liberation Army Navy|PLAN]]
* [[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 ===
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor=cccccc
!Model!!Type!!Number!!Dates!!Manufacturer!!Details
|-
| [[WZ551|Type 92]] || 6 wheeled [[armored personnel carrier]] || 21 || 1980s || [[Norinco]] || With 12.7mm machine gun
|-
| [[Type 56 assault rifle|Type 56C]] || 7.62&nbsp;mm [[assault rifle]] || N/A || N/A || Norinco ||
|-
| [[Type 88 (rifle)|Type 88]] || 5.8&nbsp;mm [[sniper rifle]] || N/A || N/A || Norinco ||
|-
| [[CS/LR4]] || 7.62&nbsp;mm [[sniper rifle]] || N/A || N/A || Norinco ||
|-
| [[QBZ-191]] || 5.8&nbsp;mm [[Assault rifle|automatic assault rifle]] || N/A || N/A || Norinco ||
|-
| [[QBZ-95]] || 5.8&nbsp;mm [[Assault rifle|automatic assault rifle]] || N/A || N/A || Norinco ||
|-
| [[QBZ-03]] || 5.8&nbsp;mm [[Assault Rifle|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 ||
|-
| [[QBB-95|Type 95 Squad Machine Gun]] || [[Light machine gun]] || N/A || N/A || Norinco ||
|-
| [[QSZ-92|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 || Norinco || Chinese copy of HMMWV
|-
| [[JH600 Duke]]|| motorcycle || N/A || N/A || Jialing ||
|}

== Navy ==
{{Outdated|part=section|date=April 2025|reason=Type 056 corvettes have been handed to the coast guard and have been replaced by 2 Type 056A corvettes}}
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 ===
* Squadron 38081 – a [[Squadron (naval)|naval squadron]] of the [[South Sea Fleet]]

=== Bases ===
* [[Stonecutter's Island]] ([[Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base]]) – formerly [[HMS Tamar (shore station)|HMS ''Tamar'']], PLAN base
* Central military dock; near central barracks

=== Fleet ===
Various ships of the [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] visit the base, but only a few ships remain on semi-permanent basis.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|-
!Class or name
!width=120px|Builder
!Type
!Quantity
!Year Entered Service!!Details
!Photos
|-
|[[Type 056 corvette|Type 056 Jiangdao class]]
|Huangpu Shipyard, [[Guangzhou]], [[Guangdong]]
|Corvette
|2
|2013
|596 {{lang|zh|惠州}} / ''Huizhou''
597 {{lang|zh-Hans|钦州}} / ''Qinzhou''

* 1 × [[AK-176]] 76&nbsp;mm. gun
* 2 × 30&nbsp;mm. cannon
* 2× 2-cell [[YJ-83]] [[anti-ship missile]]s, amidships
* 1 × 8-cell [[TY-90#FL-3000N|FL-3000N]] [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] launcher
* 2 × triple 324&nbsp;mm. [[torpedo tube]]s
|[[File:596 Huizhou.jpg|250px]]
|-
| [[Type 074|Type 074-II]] Yuhai class ||[[Wuhu Shipyard]] of [[Wuhu City|Wuhu]], [[Anhui]] || [[Amphibious warfare ship|Medium Landing Ship]] || 3 || 2017-8 || 3357, 3358, and 3359
Two 25&nbsp;mm [[guns]]
|[[File:Type 074 HK.png|thumb]]
|-
|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.
|[[File:駐港部隊艦艇大隊 - 南交86軍用交通艇.JPG|250px]]
|}

== Air Force ==
[[File:PLAAF Z-8KH.jpg|thumb|A Z-8KH of PLAAF]]

=== Units ===
* 1 [[squadron (aviation)|helicopter squadron]] (PLAAF # 39968) at local [[Sek Kong Airfield|Shek Kong Airbase]]
* 1 [[squadron (aviation)|fighter squadron]] at Guangdong Airbase

=== Bases ===
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 ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align: left;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left;"|Country of Manufacture
! style="text-align: left;"|Type
! style="text-align: left;"|In Service
! style="text-align: left;"|Notes
|-
| [[Harbin Z-9]]
| China
| [[utility helicopter]]
| 12 – at [[Shek Kong Airfield]]
| upgraded variant of [[Eurocopter Panther|AS 565 Panther]] and [[Eurocopter Dauphin|SA 360 Dauphin 2]]
|-
| [[Changhe Z-8| Changhe Z-8KH]]
| China
| [[Military helicopter#Multi-mission and rescue|search and rescue helicopter]]
| 4 – at [[Shek Kong Airfield]]
| Licensed version of [[Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[Macao Garrison]]
* [[British Forces Overseas Hong Kong]]
* [[Military of Portuguese Macau]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army}}
* {{Weibo}} {{in lang|zh}}

{{-}}
{{Hong Kong topics}}
{{PLA Military Region}}
{{People's Liberation Army}}
{{Structure of People's Liberation Army Ground Force since 2017}}
{{China national security}}
{{Military of Asia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:People's Liberation Army Ground Force]]
[[Category:People's Liberation Army Hong Kong garrison| ]]
[[Category:Military of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Southern Theater Command]]
[[Category:Guangzhou Military Region]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Corps grade units of the armed forces of China]]