The Shek Kong Airfield (ICAO: VHSK), formerly Royal Air Force Sek Kong or Sek Kong Airfield, is an airfield (airbase) located in Shek Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong.
The base currently houses air force units of People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison (PLAHKG), as well as previously being open for restricted civilian use during weekends.
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) use to be allowed to use the airport facilities for operation of private aeroplanes and to conduct private flight training.[3][4]
At RAF Sek Kong, the Royal Air Force operated a small force of a single 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 in Hong Kong.
A partial list of RAF squadrons stationed at RAF Sek Kong before 1997:
With a Vietnamese refugee camp using the runway from 1989[1] to 1993,[2] the base hosted only helicopters after 1989 until the runway was reinstated in 1995. However, no fixed wing aircraft of the RAF used the runway before the base was closed in 1996.[citation needed]
The British Army also operated a squadron of helicopters at RAF Sek Kong from 1970 until 1993, performing observation / reconnaissance and troop-lifting roles on the Hong Kong to mainland Chinese border, and supporting the army on exercises. The Army Air Corps (AAC) unit was heavily involved in stemming the flood of illegal immigrants from mainland China. No. 660 Squadron AAC operated from 1978 until the end of 1993.[6] The AAC squadron, 50 years old at the time, was the last overseas unit using Westland Scout helicopters.[5][7]
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 9,000 refugees.[2][8] During the time as a refugee centre, half the runway was closed and used for temporary housing (mainly tents, and some quonset huts).[8] 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 had a small presence in Hong Kong since 1997. There is one PLA unit stationed in Shek Kong:
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.
Private use
Whilst still under Royal Air Force operation, the Hong Kong Aviation Club (HKAC), Hong Kong's private recreational flying organisation,[4] moved most of its aircraft to Shek Kong in 1994. This was after the hours for general aviation (GA) at Kai Tak Airport (then the international airport for Hong Kong) were sharply reduced, to two hours per morning (07:00 to 09:00), as of 1 July that year.[3]
Archaeological discoveries
According to the book: Archaeological discoveries of Guangdong province during Jin dynasty to Tang dynasty, urns tracing back to Tang dynasty ( AD 618--AD 907 ) were discovered in Shek kong airport.
^ ab"High-flyers have licence to thrill". www.SCMP.com. South China Morning Post. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2021. For anyone who has ever dreamt of flying, the first step to getting your wings is to join the Hong Kong Aviation Club (HKAC), the city's only flight training centre.[...] The Shek Kong Airfield is used by the People's Liberation Army during the week, with permission given to the club to use it during weekends.
