Hong Kong authorities have arrested two men accused of flying drones near a temporary restricted flying zone, where a visiting amphibious assault vessel of the Chinese military was docked, the city’s police said on Sunday.
Police said the two men, aged 35 and 18, were arrested at the China Merchants Wharf near Kennedy Town in Hong Kong on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23, respectively, for allegedly violating the city’s Small Unmanned Aircraft Order.
At least two drones were confiscated during the arrests. Both men have since been released on bail pending an investigation into the case, and they will report to the police next month, local media reported.
The arrests occurred as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) naval fleet, which includes the amphibious assault ship Hainan and guided-missile destroyer Changsha, arrived in Hong Kong for a five-day port visit on Nov. 21. They were opened to the public for publicity.
“Anyone who operates a small drone near the vicinity of a People’s Liberation Army vessel without authorization is committing an offense,” the police said in a statement.
Police said that those found guilty of violating the order could face a maximum penalty of a HK$100,000 ($12,850) fine and up to two years of imprisonment.
The Hainan vessel was berthed at the China Merchants Wharf port around 10 a.m. local time on Nov. 21, while the destroyer Changsha was docked at the Ngong Shuen Chau port, also known as Stonecutters Island.
The Chinese military said that its naval fleet’s port visit was intended to demonstrate the PLA’s “firm determination and strong capability” to safeguard national sovereignty and security of Hong Kong. The former British colony was handed back to China in 1997 to be governed under the “one country, two systems” framework, which was meant to grant the city and its residents a high degree of autonomy, and preserve its legal and economic systems for 50 years following the handover.
However, with Beijing’s introduction of its National Security Law in 2020, which grants broad powers to suppress dissent and criminalize acts deemed as threats to national security, Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms have been significantly eroded.
During the port visit, the ships will be open to the residents of Hong Kong and Macao, the PLA stated.
These events include deck receptions, lectures on national defense, and cultural exchange activities. The PLA said it expects more than 10,000 visitors to the ships, which will include students and service members of the PLA Hong Kong and Macao garrisons.
This port call marked the Hainan vessel’s first visit to a Hong Kong port since it was commissioned into the PLA navy in April 2021, according to the Chinese media. The assault ship was first launched in September 2019 and is capable of carrying up to 30 aircraft on its flight deck.
