By Joshua Kwok Leopold Chen Lo Hoi-ying Lorraine Chiang
Hundreds of residents and tourists lined Hong Kong's waterfronts on Thursday morning to catch a glimpse of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its accompanying strike group entering local waters.
Crowds packed the esplanade at the South Horizons private residential estate in Hong Kong Island’s Southern district, with many setting up cameras to get pictures of the passing warships.
The Shandong was spotted near Lamma Island at 7.17am and is the first Chinese carrier to call at Hong Kong since the Liaoning visited in July 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty.
The 70,000-tonne warship was escorted by missile destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang, and the missile frigate Yuncheng on Thursday, with the carrier hosting a series of tours and cultural exchange activities in the city until Monday next week.
The five-day trip also marks the first time one of the country’s fully domestically built carriers has visited the city.
Military hardware fan Hui Muk-ling, an optometrist in his thirties, said he took the first MTR train from Kowloon Tong at 5.45am to travel to South Horizons just to take pictures of the vessels.
“I asked DeepSeek about the vessel’s route as it entered Hong Kong waters, and [the platform] told me this is the best viewing spot. So here I am,” he said, referring to China’s home-made generative artificial intelligence tool.
“I am looking forward to it as it is China’s first domestically made aircraft carrier.”
Cao Hui, a retired People’s Liberation Army soldier living in South Horizons, brought his grandson to the harbourfront to see the ships at around 7.40am.
“I am very proud,” the 70-year-old said. “China used to lag behind in military strength. The achievement we have today is marvellous.”
More than 20 people also waited for the fleet at the Kennedy Town waterfront at around 7.30am.
Some sightseers brought along cameras and long lenses to capture the moment, while others used their phones.
Among the fans was a 71-year-old retiree surnamed Wan, who said he was unable to secure a ticket for the vessel.
“I woke up especially early and came here without having breakfast,” said Wan, who lives in Eastern district and arrived at the waterfront at around 6.30am.
“I am hoping to see some vessels from the fleet, even though I wanted to see the carrier Shandong the most.”
Ferry services for nine of Hong Kong’s outlying islands were suspended between 7.20am and 9.50am on Thursday to make way for the fleet’s entry into Hong Kong waters.
The affected routes include those between Central and Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Peng Chau, Yung Shue Wan, Sok Kwu Wan and Discovery Bay.
At Tsuen Wan pier, more than 100 pupils from the Hong Kong Management Association David Li Kwok Po College had to wake up earlier to catch a ferry to Cheung Chau for a two-day field trip rather than from Central.
Chu Hon-yin, 16, said he had to wake up half an hour earlier.
Another commuter at the pier, an office worker surnamed Chan, said the change was “super annoying”.
“I have a driving lesson at Ap Lei Chau. If the ferry went to Central, I would only need to transfer once, but now I have to make three transfers,” Chan, who is in her thirties, said. “I also had to wake up half an hour earlier.”
To get to her destination, Chan needed to take the ferry from Cheung Chau to get another boat to Tsuen Wan before reaching Ap Lei Chau by MTR.
Chan said she only learned about the ferry service suspension when she saw a friend’s Instagram post about it, adding that she found the alternative arrangements confusing.
“I don’t know why they have to block the whole passage for the fleet,” she said.
Discovery Bay resident Roberto Giannetta said the free ferry service to Tsuen Wan pier had “worked out quite well” for him.
“I usually work in Central, but I have a meeting in Tsuen Wan today. I even got breakfast,” he said, explaining that staff on board had dished out cupcakes to passengers.