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Lynn Zhang

Hayley Wong

All free tickets to board the Shandong aircraft carrier during its port call to Hong Kong from July 3 to 7 have been snapped up in less than a minute across three reservation sessions on Monday.
The Post found the tickets for the first batch were gone within 45 seconds after they were released on WeChat.
When the second batch was released at 3pm, the reservation system showed no tickets for the Shandong remained, while those for visiting Zhanjiang and Yuncheng vessels were snapped up within 30 seconds.
The five-day visit of the naval fleet, which includes another missile destroyer, the Yan’an, is part of the city’s celebrations for the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.
During the third reservation round starting at 8pm, tickets for the three vessels were gone within 31 seconds.
It was unclear how many tickets were being offered in each session.
Any remaining tickets, if available, will be released again at 10am on Tuesday, according to the official WeChat account of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison.
A total of 10,000 tickets, with 2,000 designated for the aircraft carrier and 8,000 for the Zhanjiang missile destroyer and the Yuncheng frigate were up for grabs, with real-name registration beginning at 10am, 3pm and 8pm on Monday until all were claimed.
Some people complained on social media that the first round of reservations was too complicated and securing a spot required quick reflexes.
“The few people I’ve seen who managed to get slots all completed their entries within just 10 to 15 seconds,” one user commented on RedNote.
“After clicking in, you first have to select a time slot and then enter a verification code – my fingers just weren’t quick enough,” another person posted on the platform.

Under the rules, the person who reserves a ticket must be the same individual visiting the ship.
On the day of the visit, an original valid identification document and the electronic QR code from the reservation must be presented to redeem a physical ticket.
The fleet’s port call marks the first time a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy aircraft carrier strike group has visited the city in eight years. The last such visit was by China’s first commissioned aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet-era vessel, in July 2017.
The Shandong began development in 2013 and was commissioned in 2019, seven years after the Liaoning – a former Soviet Union carrier bought by the PLA – was commissioned.
China’s navy has become the largest in terms of number of vessels. Aircraft carriers are key to blue water operations, conducted far from a nation’s own shores.
The country’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is expected to enter service by the end of this year. It is equipped with electromagnetic catapults, an advanced technology that allows aircraft to take off more efficiently and has only been adopted by Chinese and American carriers so far.
The Shandong and Liaoning conducted a dual-carrier operation in the western Pacific in June, a first for China.
The Shandong set a new national precedent by sailing across the second island chain, a notional defence perimeter for the US and its allies to contain China during potential conflicts.
The carrier was also involved in a large-scale military drill around Taiwan in April, as the PLA ramped up combat readiness preparation after independence-leaning William Lai Ching-te took office last year.
The Shandong strike group operated in the southeast of the self-ruled island and entered the Taiwanese “response zone” in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as independent. But Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to supplying weapons for its defence.
China is currently building its fourth carrier, which is expected to use nuclear power, allowing it to operate longer at sea without docking.


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Tickets to visit Chinese aircraft carrier in Hong Kong gone in under a minute

The Shandong, China’s most advanced aircraft carrier, leads a naval fleet that is stopping over in Hong Kong from July 3 to 7. Photo: Handout

The missile destroyer, the Zhanjiang, is part of a Chinese naval fleet led by the Shandong that will stop in Hong Kong for five days from July 3. Photo: Handout

Chinese aircraft carrier-led fleet to visit Hong Kong for 5 days

The Shandong is China’s first domestically built and outfitted conventionally powered aircraft carrier. Photo: Weibo/@央广军事

How to score tickets for port call by Shandong aircraft carrier to Hong Kong

Ten thousand tickets will be available to the public, with 2,000 designated for the Shandong aircraft carrier (pictured) and 8,000 for the Zhanjiang and Yuncheng vessels combined. Photo: Weibo / @央广军事

China’s naval capabilities entered a new era on December 17, 2019, with the official commissioning of the Shandong. Photo: CCTV

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Hong Kong

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Some social media users complain reservation process for first session was too complicated and securing spot required quick reflexes


Some social media users complain reservation process for first session was too complicated and securing spot required quick reflexes.


Hong Kong society

China's military weapons

China’s aircraft carriers

China

Tickets to visit Chinese aircraft carrier in Hong Kong gone in under a minute

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Some social media users complain reservation process for first session was too complicated and securing spot required quick reflexes

Some social media users complain reservation process for first session was too complicated and securing spot required quick reflexes