Chief Secretary Eric Chan says it was a precious opportunity for residents to appreciate the country’s achievements in defence and the military
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenJess Ma,Ng Kang-chungandBenjamin FullerPublished: 11:47am, 6 Jul 2026Two PLA warships departed Hong Kong on Monday morning, concluding a high-profile five-day port call with a ceremony at the naval base on Stonecutters Island.
Dozens of residents and visitors lined waterfront areas for a final glimpse of the guided-missile destroyer Nanning and the guided-missile frigate Hengyang as they sailed through Victoria Harbour and the Tathong Channel in eastern waters.
Speaking amid heavy rain at the send-off ceremony, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki expressed gratitude to the nation and the naval task group led by the Nanning.
“It was a precious opportunity for residents to see the domestically developed destroyer and appreciate the country’s achievements in defence and the military,” Chan said.
He added that the visit had also served as a lesson in patriotism, with visitors learning about naval operations and soldiers’ resilience through interactions during vessel tours.
“These interactions will plant the seed of patriotism in young people’s hearts, turning an abstract concept into something tangible,” he said.
