The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison started the “Hong Kong Defender-2015C”exercise in the New Territories on July 4. Garrison Commander Tan Benhong said it was successful and greatly impressed the Hong Kong audience.
At around 10 a.m. at the Tsingshan firing range, the drill began with three red signal flares fired into the sky. The scenario was based on a group of “militants” who had taken advantage of the terrain at Tsingshan to attempt to penetrate and sabotage the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon areas. The garrison mobilized its elite air and land units and staged an immediate joint attack.
The participating troops included motorized and mechanized infantry, special forces, and engineering, chemical defense, artillery and army helicopter units. Their equipment included the Zhi-9 armed helicopters and Zhi-8 multi-purpose helicopters, 92B wheeled armored vehicles and PP87 82-mm mortars. On arrival at the battlefield, they launched coordinated attacks with heavy machineguns, mortars and air-to-ground missiles, while special forces penetrated the enemy positions with segmentation and annihilation tactics.
Within about 40 minutes, the troops had precisely wiped out all enemy targets, winning the applause of spectators.
More than 500 people from all walks of Hong Kong society were invited to the exercise. "The soldiers are so impressive. I feel very safe with them around," said Lam Shuk-yee, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions. Chan Hei-chuen, principal of Lam Tsuen Public Wong Fook Luen Memorial School, said the drill was exhilarating. He said he would share this day with his students so they could understand the value of having a stronger motherland and the significance of having the Hong Kong Garrison safeguarding the region. Wong Ting-chung, a deputy to the National People’s Congress, said Hong Kong was a part of China and the presence of Hong Kong Garrison had brought residents a sense of security. Military commentator Ma Ding-shing said the live-fire exercise showed the PLA Hong Kong Garrison was resolute and capable of safeguarding the country's security and sovereignty.
According to a garrison spokesperson, the drill was conducted in line with The Garrison Law and the garrison's annual exercise plan. It was also part of the process of opening the garrison camp to the public. Through such exercises, the garrison could evaluate the training of the troops, enhance their combat skills and keep morale high.
It was the first event of its kind open to the public since 1997. Also present were Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, Song Zhe, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Hong Kong, Lai Tung-kwo, secretary for the Security Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, deputies of Hong Kong to the National People’s Congress and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, and principals and teachers of primary and middle schools. The event was also part of the garrison's summer exercise plan.
Since late May, the garrison has conducted the Hong Kong Defender-2015A and Hong Kong Defender-2015B exercises to focus on naval and air defense.
