Shek Kong Airfield

Before the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the airfield was used by the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong as a Royal Air Force (RAF) station. It was officially known as Royal Air Force Sek Kong, commonly abbreviated RAF Sek Kong. Construction started in 1938 and was completed in 1950, with a hiatus during 1941–1945 due to the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II.

Between 1989 and 1993,^[1][2] RAF Sek Kong was also a Vietnamese Refugee Detention Centre for Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong.^[1] Numbers peaked in 1992 with the centre hosting 9,000 refugees.^[2][3] Half of the runway was temporarily closed and used for temporary housing (mainly tents, and some quonset huts).^[3] As a result, only rotary aircraft operated from the base, until the refugee's centre closure – after which the runway was restored for use by fixed-wing aircraft in 1995.^{[citation needed]}

The airbase was also used by private recreational flying organisation, Hong Kong Aviation Club (HKAC).^[4] It moved most of its aircraft to Shek Kong in 1994, after Kai Tak Airport (then the city's international airport) sharply reduced the hours for general aviation to two hours every morning (07:00 to 09:00) that year.^[5]

RAF Sek Kong hosted a single RAF squadron from 1950 to 1996. It was a permanent assignment, with personnel and their families living in Sek Kong for three-year tours of duty. The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHK AuxAF) was also a permanent air force unit operating at the airbase.

A partial list of RAF squadrons stationed at RAF Sek Kong before 1997:

• No. 80 Squadron RAF: 3 January – 1 February 1950, 7 March – 28 April 1950
• No. 28 Squadron RAF: 1 May – 7 October 1950, 28 March 1951 – 15 August 1955, 5 December 1955 – 14 June 1957, 17 May 1978 – 1 November 1996
• Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force 1979–1993

A list of RAF aircraft stationed at RAF Sek Kong:

• 
  RAF Sek Kong 1983
• 
  Westland Wessex of No. 28 Squadron RAF
• 
  Westland Scout of No. 660 Squadron AAC
• 
  Dauphin of RHKAAF

The British Army also operated a squadron of helicopters at RAF Sek Kong from 1970 until 1993, performing reconnaissance and troop-lifting roles at the city's border with mainland China, and supporting the army on exercises. The Army Air Corps (AAC) unit was heavily involved in stemming the influx of illegal immigrants from mainland China. No. 660 Squadron AAC operated from 1978 until the end of 1993.^[7] The AAC squadron, 50 years old at the time, was the last overseas unit using Westland Scout helicopters.^[6][8]

Support equipment

After the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, Shek Kong airfield became an airbase of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) There is one PLA unit stationed in Shek Kong:

• PLAAF Helicopter Regiment 39968
  • Hong Kong Special Aviation Unit — transport

The PLA ground and naval forces also use Shek Kong, mainly for training and Open Day use.

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

It is currently used by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the week but, during weekends, members of the Hong Kong Aviation Club (HKAC) used to be allowed to use the airport facilities for operation of private aeroplanes and to conduct private flight training.^[5][4]

• List of airports in Hong Kong
• Former overseas RAF Stations
• List of People's Liberation Army Air Force airbases
• Hong Kong Aviation Club