The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong has left many Hong Kong residents and visitors impressed with its contingent of fighter jets and overall military prowess, while tourism sector veterans have said they are looking at how to capitalise on 鈥渇uture warship visits鈥.
China鈥檚 first domestically built aircraft carrier and other vessels in its strike group began accepting tours on Saturday morning while the ships were calling at the city.
The tours offer the public the chance to explore designated areas of the ships, view fighter jets and helicopters, and observe training displays.
The Shandong arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning for a five-day visit, accompanied by the destroyers Yanan and Zhanjiang and the frigate Yuncheng, while carrying a dozen advanced carrier fighters and military helicopters.
The high demand to see the vessels saw the 10,000 tour group tickets snapped up within minutes of becoming available earlier this week.
According to police, the first two or three ships taking tour groups to the Shandong had returned empty due to the trips not being subject to strict time limits.
Xia Lei, a 45-year-old entrepreneur, stayed for two hours and said the introduction to the Shenyang J-15T fighter jets by friendly military personnel was his favourite moment of the tour.
鈥淲e are all compatriots. The friendliness of the soldiers made all the difference. It鈥檚 so much better than going to an ordinary military exhibition,鈥 he said.
Shang Hailong, a 43-year-old technology worker, said he managed to pick up a PLA Navy water bottle that was distributed by the ship鈥檚 personnel.
鈥淩efreshments and souvenirs were prepared for visitors, and the soldiers also performed for us, playing instruments and singing, etc,鈥 he said.
鈥淚t was an incredible experience; many people didn鈥檛 want to leave.鈥
Visitors also received souvenir packs that included memorial pins, badges and keychains, bookmarks and leaflets.
Earlier in the day, a previous batch of more than 50 ticket holders gathered to undergo security checks before they could be taken over to the carrier.
Tour groups were also told that cameras and any liquids were prohibited from being brought on board.
Among those waiting to tour the warship was 63-year-old Yeung Yuk-sing, who said he was excited to see the country鈥檚 latest line of fighter jets.
鈥淗ong Kong has one of the most important positions in the Chinese government鈥檚 heart. I feel lucky to be one of the first to see the carrier in person in the whole country,鈥 he said.
鈥淚t makes me feel safe on this special occasion, knowing that our military power is top-notch,鈥 said Yeung, referring to the 80th anniversary of the country鈥檚 war with Japan and the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Beijing-imposed national security law.
In light of the overwhelming demand for tickets to board the Shandong, some businesses also jumped at the opportunity to profit from the ship鈥檚 popularity.
Several cruise ships and water taxis were observed around the aircraft carrier Shandong on Saturday, with the trip offering those without tour tickets a chance to glimpse the country鈥檚 first domestically built carrier.
Among these vessels was the Oriental Pearl Harbour Cruise, a sightseeing ship with a 480-passenger capacity, organised by lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung and the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.
The two-hour tour, which departed from Central at around 9am, welcomed aboard hundreds of representatives from the tourism, hotel and airline industries.
Tourism lawmaker Yiu said the trip aimed to help tourism industry insiders 鈥渦nderstand better鈥 the boat charter service to help them design similar packages for future warship visits.
鈥淚f we can strive for the regular visits of warships and aircraft carriers to come to Hong Kong, for example, during National Day, the handover anniversary, or Navy Day, it would make it easier for the industry to design and sell products,鈥 he said.
Yiu added that when the Liaoning aircraft carrier last visited Hong Kong in 2017, he also booked a boat tour and learned of its potential popularity, given the very limited boarding quota.
The past tour prompted him to immediately organise a fresh one when he learned the news of the Shandong鈥檚 planned visit to Hong Kong.
鈥淎lthough the visit is very short, a few council members organised some ship tours and designed packages. It is good for visitors to take a look, even if it鈥檚 from a distance,鈥 Travel Industry Council chairman Tommy Tam Kwong-shun said.
鈥淚n the future, we鈥檒l definitely pick up and introduce more packages to local residents and tourists. Not just mainlanders, but also foreigners; they would love to see the vessel.鈥
A day earlier, students from the city, across the border and Macau boarded the warship for a special tour, with introductions led by navy officers.