The People's Liberation Army naval formation led by aircraft carrier Liaoning ends its first port call in Hong Kong and heads home today (Tuesday). The four heavy warships - Liaoning, two missile destroyers and one frigate - are technologically some of the most advanced currently in service with the PLA Navy and therefore have attracted a lot of attention from around the world, but particularly Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. As the very first aircraft carrier to enter active service in the country the Liaoning represents a milestone in the history of China's national defense. For Hong Kong, however, the ship is much more than an impressive piece of military hardware, the port call reflects the significance the central government attaches to the SAR.

As the freest trade port in the world, Hong Kong has seen quite a few aircraft carriers over the years, usually from the United States. After a while, the presence of all those foreign warships just means more business for local bars and what not. Local residents have also seen some big warships from the PLA Navy when they made port calls here but the Liaoning is no doubt the largest of them all, not to mention that this is the very first time the nation's first aircraft carrier in active service has welcomed civilian visitors on board.

It is no secret that the presence of the Liaoning-led naval formation has been timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, following a scheduled training exercise in the South China Sea. No matter what foreign media have to say about the four naval warships' port call in Hong Kong, the great majority of local society is just happy and proud they could see with their own eyes how far the nation has come in terms of defense capabilities, and what it means to its citizens. They know very well the Liaoning is only the first of its kind - bigger and more advanced sister carriers are yet to come. There is no need for them to say it out loud but this is definitely a great opportunity for them to have a patriotic reality check. And the enthusiasm with which thousands of local residents lined up for a chance to board the warships speaks volumes about that.

Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability is in very good hands and we have 20 years of successful exercise of "one country, two systems" to prove it. The central government and the nation as a whole will stop at nothing to ensure the country's sovereignty, national security and development interests. Hong Kong must be a contributor as well.

(HK Edition 07/11/2017 page9)