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In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China has given approval for one missile destroyer and one missile frigate of the naval escort taskforce 171 of the Chinese Navy to make a port call in Hong Kong. The port call invitation was made by the HKSAR Government to the taskforce, which is returning home after completing its escort mission.
The destroyer, Haikou, and the frigate, Yuncheng, will berth at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks from April 30 to May 4.
Naval escort taskforce 171 left Zhanjiang on November 2, 2011, and completed the mission to fend off Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on March 20, 2012. The taskforce visited Mozambique and Thailand before travelling to Hong Kong. Over the past four months, the taskforce successfully completed 40 escort missions for a total of 240 Chinese and foreign ships, including 34 from Hong Kong.
While in Hong Kong, members of the public may tour the two warships with tickets. Ticket arrangements will be announced by the People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong in due course.
Ends/Thursday, April 19, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:31
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