Aircraft carrier to dock in Hong Kong for reunification celebrations

China’s aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning will visit Hong Kong during celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the territory’s return to the motherland, the Ministry of Defense has said.

July 1 marks not only 20 years since Hong Kong was returned to China, but also 20 years of the People’s Liberation Army’s presence in the special administrative region.

The CNS Liaoning battle group will dock at Hong Kong during a sea training mission to take part in celebrations for the two anniversaries, Senior Colonel Wu Qian said at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.

The battle group consists of the CNS Liaoning, the CNS Jinan and CNS Yinchuan guided-missile destroyers, the CNS Yantai guided-missile frigate, and several J-15 carrier-borne fighter jets and helicopters.

Wu said a detailed schedule will be published later.

The battle group departed from its home port in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Sunday to conduct routine training that was listed in the Navy’s annual plan, the Navy said.