The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday conducted a joint patrol participated by its army, naval and air force units, focusing on enhancing the troops' combat, commanding and coordination capabilities under emergency and special circumstances.
The joint patrol involved multiple services and arms such as army infantries, naval vessels, and army helicopters, focusing on air and sea patrol, search and seizure, joint control of sea areas, and emergency rescue and repair.
At 9:00 in the morning, naval vessels at the Chinese PLA Hong Kong Garrison's Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks made emergency preparations, deported from the military port to the target sea area. Two army helicopters of the air force flew to the mission area to support the naval fleet in the joint air-sea patrols, management and control.
After the troops arrived at the target sea area, the helicopters found a "suspicious vessel" there and rapidly flew over it to issue a warning, stopped it and then led the naval vessels to intercept the ship. A special squad on the naval vessel then boarded the ship for inspection and arrested suspects.
"With the help of radar, optoelectronic devices, and automatic identification system, the naval vessels and helicopters coordinated closely to identify, intercept and search the target ship. The drill has tested the troops' comprehensive discrimination ability of sea and air situations and their emergency-handling capability."
Meanwhile, in Shek Kong Barracks, army infantries coordinated with the helicopters to conduct maritime security patrol on important target in the mission area.
"The joint patrol was set in an actual combating scenario. We organized emergency dispatch of troops of multiple services in joint formation and multiple locations, highlighting practical content such as rapid joint planning and command of drills, sea and air patrols, inspections and arrests, joint management and control of sea areas, and emergency rescue and repair in a coherent manner. The test in high-intensity confrontation has improved the combat capabilities of the garrison troops in responding to emergencies and performing diversified military tasks," said Zhao Long, another soldier from the PLA Hong Kong Garrison.
During the joint patrol, the participating troops strictly followed the laws and regulations of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ( HKSAR) on the management of roads, waterways and aviation, and had notified relevant departments of the HKSAR government in advance.
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