STAFF REPORTERS
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 14 October, 2015, 12:01am
UPDATED : Wednesday, 14 October, 2015, 12:01am
Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison demonstrate the rescue of an injured comrade by helicopter in an anti-terrorism operation during a PLA garrison open day at Shek Kong. Photo: Nora Tam
Experts have weighed in on a report that the People's Liberation Army will set up a land-to-air missile base at Hong Kong's Shek Kong military airfield, suggesting the move was motivated not by local political concerns but rather an overdue strengthening of the city's defensive capabilities.
The latest Chinese-language edition of the Canada-based Kanwa Defence Review said the PLA would deploy a Hongqi-6 missile battalion at the base in the New Territories later this year.
The HQ-6 system usually consists of six flatbed trucks with missiles housed on their backs, supported by smaller artillery units. The missiles have a range of 18km and are used to destroy low- to medium-flying air threats. The magazine based its claim on Google satellite images of the base, which showed landscaping work in line with preparatory work for such a system.
Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong said satellite pictures he saw proved the missiles would be deployed in Shek Kong, and such a deployment in Hong Kong was unprecedented. But he did not believe there was a political motive.
"Hong Kong has long been too weak in its anti-aircraft capabilities," said Wong, adding the capacity was almost non-existent in the city and would still be "limited" after the deployment.
Wong said the missiles would be deployed mainly to protect military aircraft at Shek Kong.
The deployment was long overdue, Wong said, given that Taiwan, under the government of Lee Teng-hui, had said in the late 1990s it would not rule out attacks on Shanghai and Hong Kong in the event of war.
Professor Lin Chong-pin, a former deputy defence minister of Taiwan, said he had reservations about the move because even if the PLA was planning to counter potential military threats, it could choose any base in Guangdong or Hainan .
Hong Kong-based military observer Liang Guoliang said the PLA's two advanced lightweight Type 056 stealth frigates, based at Stonecutters Island naval base, could defend the city from air and sea threats.
Wong said the missile deployment may signal future deployments of attack aircraft such as the WZ-10 helicopter in Hong Kong. Fighter jets cannot be stationed in the city due to the limitations of the airfield.
The PLA Hong Kong garrison and the government did not immediately respond to requests for comment last night.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1867268/political-move-or-defensive-measure-pla-set-base-surface-air
