Shek Kong Airfield

"RAF Sek Kong" and "Sek Kong Airbase" redirect here.

Shek Kong Airfield 石崗機場
IATA: none – ICAO: VHSK
Summary
Airport type		Military/Civilian
Owner		PLAAF
Operator		PLAAF
Serves		Sek Kong
Location		Hong Kong
Elevation AMSL		50 ft / 15 m
Coordinates		22°26′11″N 114°4′50″E
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

Runway of Shek Kong Airfield

The Shek Kong Airfield (Chinese: 石崗機場), ICAO:VHSK), formerly RAF Sek Kong/Sek Kong Airfield, is an airbase located in Shek Kong of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

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

History

Before the British handover of Hong Kong back to China in 1997, the airbase was used by the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong, and was then an 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 the mid 1980s to 1992, RAF Sek Kong was also a Vietnamese Refugee Detention Centre.

During weekends, the general public are allowed to use the airport for operation of private airplanes and to conduct private flight training.

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:

• No. 80 Squadron RAF - 3 Jan - 1 Feb 1950, 7 Mar - 28 Apr 1950
• No. 28 Squadron RAF - 1 May - 7 Oct 1950, 28 Mar 1951 - 15 Aug 1955, 5 Dec 1955 - 14 Jun 1957, 17 May 1978 - 1 Nov 1996
• Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force 1979-1993

A list of RAF aircraft stationed at Sek Kong:

Builder/Model	Type	Number	Dates	Details
de Havilland Hornet	naval fighter		1951–1955	No 80. RAF
Westland Wessex	helicopter		1978–1996	No. 28 RAF
de Havilland Vampire	fighter		1951–1954
Supermarine Spitfires F.24	fighter		1949–1951	No 80 RAF

With a Vietnamese refuge camp using the runway from 1982 to 1992, the base hosted rotary aircraft only after 1982.

British Army

The British Army also operated a small air unit in Hong Kong for training and other operations:

• Army Air Corps No. 660 Squadron - Westland Scout

Support Equipment

Model	Type	Number	Dates	Details
Bedford	RL tipper truck		1980s-1990s
Gurkha Transport Regiment	Tank transporters		1980s-1990s

Refugee Camp 1982-1993

Beginning in 1982, the base was also a refugee centre for Vietnamese boat people arriving in Hong Kong. At the peak in 1992, the centre hosted 9000 refugees. During the time as a refugee centre, 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 restored for use by fixed wing aircraft.

PLAAF

The PLAAF has a small presence in Hong Kong since 1997. There is only 1 PLA unit stationed in Sek Kong:

• PLAAF Helicopter Regiment 39968

Builder/Model	Type	Number	Dates	Details
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.

See also

• List of airports in Hong Kong
• Former Overseas RAF Stations
• Hong Kong Aviation Club

External links

• Helicopter Database - HK Sek Kong
• Sek Kong
• History of RAF
• Crest Badge and Information of RAF Sek Kong