A People's Liberation Army Navy task force — comprising guided‑missile destroyer CNS Nanning and guided‑missile frigate CNS Hengyang — opened its decks to young Hong Kong people and student groups on Friday, the second day of its five-day visit to the special administrative region.

The young visitors to the ships said they were impressed by the nation's naval strength, while the ships’ crew members said they had been able to experience Hong Kong's prosperity and stability during their visit and expressed their hopes that the city’s youngsters will always remember that the motherland stands firmly behind them.

Friday’s visit was exclusively for young people and student groups. Long queues formed outside the Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base before 9 am, with visitors ranging from primary school pupils to university students.

They were led aboard the Nanning and the Hengyang, where soldiers and officers provided them with information about the vessels, detailing their main guns, navigation instruments, missile systems and crew quarters, and explained where the ships’ names were derived from.

Nanning is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region; Hengyang is a major city in Hunan province.

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Students also had the opportunity to see fast-attack craft, torpedo launchers, and the helicopter decks. The hands-on weaponry area was among the most popular stops.

Law Siu-hei, a final‑year student at Lingnan University and a member of the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, described what he saw as "stunning", including his first impression of the massive warships up close and his tour of their interior facilities. The helicopters on deck, he said, were the coolest and most fascinating pieces of military hardware for him.

Having missed previous PLA Navy visits to Hong Kong, Law said he hopes there will be more opportunities in the future to experience the strength of the country's navy firsthand.

Secondary 3 student Yang Chung-hei, dressed in a naval-style uniform for the visit, said the warships looked "majestic and solemn" from a distance. He said he had read about the length of the Hengyang before the visit, but seeing it up close and in person enabled him to appreciate the immense scale of the frigate.

He also said that he was particularly interested in the Hengyang’s guns and launcher systems, and the navy crew answered his questions in great detail.

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Yin Jun, a petty officer on the Hengyang, said this was his first visit to Hong Kong. He said that he felt a deep connection with the city’s residents and was happy to experience the vibrant prosperity of this international metropolis.

Yin said that he loves the legendary Hong Kong rock band Beyond and even sang part of one their songs during the visit. Yin said he sincerely hopes that young local people will continue to cherish their home city and the motherland in their future studies and lives.

Chen Jindang, a 26-year-old officer from Hunan province who serves on the Nanning, said he participated in China’s personnel-evacuation mission in Sudan in 2023.

Chen said that he still remembers helping two Hong Kong residents out of danger on that mission. “No matter where they are, the motherland will always have Hong Kong people’s backs,” Chen said.

The two warships arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday and are open to the ticket-holding public over the weekend, with 14,000 free tickets having been distributed through the PLA Hong Kong Garrison’s WeChat account.

Roys Zhang contributed to the story

Contact the writer at gangwen@chinadailyhk.com