Hong Kong residents can visit the three barracks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) garrison in the special administrative region this weekend to watch military activities as part of celebrations marking the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland.

A total of 15,000 free tickets will be distributed online via the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s official WeChat account from today, with slots available daily at 10 am, 3 pm and 8 pm until all tickets are given out.

Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks -- a naval base on Stonecutters Island in Sham Shui Po District -- will be open from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday, with the last admission at noon.

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Shek Kong Barracks in Yuen Long and San Wai Barracks in Fanling will welcome visitors from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm on both days, with the last admission at 5:30 pm.

Visitors can watch flag-raising ceremonies, military band performances and demonstrations of combat drills and equipment, with interactive activities, including training simulations, tours of the garrison’s exhibition center, cultural performances and a chance to taste soldiers’ food.

Visitors must register on the PLA’s WeChat account before going to the barracks’ open day section and complete a personal reservation form using their Hong Kong identity card. Children under 11 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian during the visit.

For safety and security, items like weapons, flammable materials and corrosive substances will be prohibited. Visitors must follow instructions from PLA staff, stay in designated areas and take care of children and elderly companions.

Over the past 27 years, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison has enriched and optimized the open day event, which has become a highly popular and flagship program.

More than 800,000 visitors have visited PLA barracks, fostering a deeper understanding of the nation and the armed forces.

The event held on June 29 and 30 last year also featured military equipment demonstrations, drawing large crowds. Children also boarded naval vessels, inspected armored vehicles, and took partin simulated shooting activities.

Upon hearing about the open day, military enthusiast Wang Zimo, who is pursuing a master’s degree at the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, said he was very interested in the “historical and significant” event, and described the barracks as both a vital witness to Hong Kong's historical transformation and a cornerstone enabling residents to stand tall as proud Chinese.

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Wang shared that he developed a fascination for military equipment following his first visit to Beijing's Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution 20 years ago.

“The progress we’ve made since then is astounding — we’ve transitioned from keeping pace with global developments to becoming innovators and leaders in defense technology,” he said.

Wang said he particularly enjoyed interacting with the PLA soldiers who safeguard Hong Kong's stability. “I hope to learn from their professionalism and discipline, while experiencing firsthand the advanced capabilities of our domestically developed weapons,” he added, emphasizing the event's role in strengthening the bond between the military and Hong Kong residents.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com