(CGTN photo)
China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning left the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Tuesday after participating in celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the region's return to China.
Over 700 people came to see Liaoning off, as a departure ceremony was held by the local government and hosted by the region's Chief Secretary for Administration, Matthew Cheung.
The vessel arrived in Hong Kong on Friday carrying a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters, and accompanied by a fleet of Chinese warships including destroyers Jinan and Yinchuan and frigate Yantai.
China's first aircraft carrier was open to the public for the first time on Saturday and Sunday.
About 50,000 people visited the fleet and some 4,000 visitors were allowed a one-hour tour of designated areas of the carrier as well as its shipborne weapons.
On Monday, crew members from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, together with the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Garrison in Hong Kong, visited a care home for the elderly, as part of a series of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the region's return to China.
Over 700 people came to see Liaoning off, as a departure ceremony was held by the local government and hosted by the region's Chief Secretary for Administration, Matthew Cheung.
The vessel arrived in Hong Kong on Friday carrying a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters, and accompanied by a fleet of Chinese warships including destroyers Jinan and Yinchuan and frigate Yantai.
Visitors pose for photos on the flight deck of China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning in Hong Kong, south China, July 9, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
China's first aircraft carrier was open to the public for the first time on Saturday and Sunday.
About 50,000 people visited the fleet and some 4,000 visitors were allowed a one-hour tour of designated areas of the carrier as well as its shipborne weapons.
Visitors pose for photos on the flight deck of China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning in Hong Kong, south China, July 9, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
On Monday, crew members from the Liaoning aircraft carrier, together with the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Garrison in Hong Kong, visited a care home for the elderly, as part of a series of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the region's return to China.
A soldier of China's aircraft carrier Liaoning sings songs when visiting the Ho Leung Kit Ting Care and Attention Home of Asia Women's League Limited in Hong Kong, south China, July 10, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
"These elderly people have contributed a lot to Hong Kong’s development," said Zhao Jinlu, a crew member of the Liaoning fleet. "I am glad to see they are well cared for. I want to talk to them and learn how to take better care of the old people in my own family."
"These events have been held for more than a decade. They have helped tighten ties between the PLA and the Hong Kong people and reduce alienation," noted Gao Feng from the PLA Hong Kong Garrison.
Liaoning, which entered service in the PLA in 2012, is a refurbished aircraft carrier built from the hull of a Soviet Union ship bought from Ukraine. It used to be China's only aircraft carrier until April 2017, when the country unveiled its first home-made carrier, the Type 001A.