Shek Kong Airfield

"RAF Sek Kong" and "Sek Kong Airbase" redirect here.
Shek Kong Airfield
石崗機場

Runway of Shek Kong Airfield
IATA: none – ICAO: VHSK
Summary
Airport type Military/Civilian
Owner PLAAF (1997–present)
Royal Air Force (1938–1997)
Operator PLAAF (1997–present)
Royal Air Force (1938–1997)
Serves Shek Kong
Location Hong Kong
Elevation AMSL 50 ft / 15 m
Coordinates 22°26′11″N 114°4′50″E / 22.43639°N 114.08056°E / 22.43639; 114.08056Coordinates: 22°26′11″N 114°4′50″E / 22.43639°N 114.08056°E / 22.43639; 114.08056
Map
Shek Kong Airfield

Location of Shek Kong Airfield in Hong Kong

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 6,250 1,905 Paved
Shek Kong Airfield
Traditional Chinese 石崗機場
Simplified Chinese 石岗机场
Shek Kong Airfield

The Shek Kong Airfield (Chinese: 石崗機場), ICAO: VHSK), formerly RAF Sek Kong or Sek Kong Airfield, is an airbase located in Shek Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong.

The airbase houses units of People's Liberation Army Air Force as well as being open for civilian use during weekends.

The closest MTR station is Kam Sheung Road.

History

Before the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the airbase was used by the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong, and was then a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Sek Kong. Construction of the airbase started in 1938, and was completed only in 1950 due to the delay caused by Japanese occupation during the World War 2.

From 1989[1] to 1993,[2] RAF Sek Kong was also a Vietnamese Refugee Detention Centre.

It is used by the People's Liberation Army during the week but, during weekends, the general public are allowed to use the airport for operation of private airplanes and to conduct private flight training.[3]

The RAF operated a small and limited force from 1950 to 1996, but they were temporary assignments from the UK. The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was the only permanent air force unit in Hong Kong.

A partial list of RAF squadrons stations before 1997:

A list of RAF aircraft stationed at Sek Kong:

Builder/ModelTypeNumberDatesDetails
de Havilland Hornet fighter 1951–1955 No. 80 RAF
Westland Wessex helicopter 1978–1996 No. 28 RAF
de Havilland Vampire fighter 1951–1954
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.24 fighter 1949–1951 No. 80 RAF

With a Vietnamese refuge camp using the runway from 1989[1] to 1993,[2] the base hosted rotary aircraft only after 1989.

British Army

The British Army also operated a squadron of helicopters in Sek Kong from 1970 until 1993, performing observation/reconnaissance and troop-lifting roles on the Hong Kong-Chinese border and supporting the army on exercises. It was heavily involved in stemming the flood of illegal-immigrants from China. No. 660 Squadron AAC operated until the end of 1993. The squadron, 50 years old at the time, was believed to be the last overseas unit using Westland Scout helicopters.[4][5][6]

Support equipment

ModelTypeNumberDatesDetails
Bedford RL tipper truck 1980s–1990s
Gurkha Transport Regiment Tank transporters 1980s–1990s

Refugee camp 1989–1993

From 1989, the base was also a refugee centre for Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong.[1] At the peak in 1992, the centre hosted 9000 refugees.[7] During the time as a refugee centre, half the runway was closed and used for temporary housing (mainly tents). As a result, only rotary aircraft operated from the base. The refugee centre closed in 1993 and the runway was restored for use by fixed wing aircraft.

PLAAF base 1997–present

The PLAAF has a small presence in Hong Kong since 1997. There is one PLA unit stationed in Sek Kong:

Builder/ModelTypeNumberDatesDetails
HAMC Harbin Z-9B Utility helicopters 12 1997–present

The PLA ground and naval forces also use Sek Kong, mainly for training and Opening Day use.

With the PLAAF operating helicopters, the runway is mostly used for civilian fixed wing aircraft. There are four "H" marked along the runway for the Z-9 to land and avoided the need to create helipads at the base.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 https://web.archive.org/web/20080410105343/http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/newspaper/view/02_09.15/129081.pdf South China Morning Post: March to show anger at Viet Policy
  2. 1 2 Getty Images: Shek Kong Camp
  3. ↑ High-flyers have licence to thrill
  4. ↑ 660 Squadron named as first unit to disband
  5. ↑ 660 Squadron
  6. ↑ Craftsmen of the Army, pp331-332
  7. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/04/world/18-vietnamese-die-in-violence-at-refugee-camp.html
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