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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, this (May 5) morning attended a ceremony at Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base to bid farewell to the Task Group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy which completed its six-day stop-over in Hong Kong.
The Task Group consisted of eight vessels including two guided missile destroyers (Shenzhen and Harbin), four guided missile frigates (Huaibei, Tongling, Xiangfan and Huaihua), and two submarines (314 and 324).
The Task Group visited Hong Kong on its way for training in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the PLA Navy.
Also attending the farewell ceremony were: Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Gao Siren; Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Yang Wenchang; Deputy Commander of Guangzhou Military Command, Lieutenant-General Ou Jingu; Commander of Hong Kong Garrison, Major-General Wang Jitang; and Political Commissar of Hong Kong Garrison, Major-General Liu Liangkai.
HKSAR Government officials also present at today's farewell ceremony were: Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee; Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong; Acting Director of Immigration, Mr Chow Kwok-chuen; and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Tang King-shing.
The Commander of the Task Group of the PLA Navy, Vice Admiral Yao Xingyuan, shook hands with all the officials seeing the Task Group off before "Shenzhen" sailed out of the Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base.
Ends/Wednesday, May 5, 2004
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