Scores of Hong Kong residents set off at dawn to visit two People’s Liberation Army naval ships anchored at Stonecutters Island as part of the National Day celebrations on Wednesday, while military college students savoured the city’s street food and admired its skyline.

Training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious assault ship Yimeng Shan, harboured at the island’s naval base, were opened up to 11,000 residents who secured free tickets given out by the PLA over the weekend.

More than 30 people were seen lining up in Mei Foo for special buses to the naval base at around 7.30am, 15 minutes before the first one departed.

At the front of the queue was retiree Mak Wai-ying, who left Chai Wan at around 6am to be among the first batch to reach the barracks.

“It’s very difficult to secure a ticket, and I mobilised several of my children to help me with this,” the 79-year-old said. “I really want to see the advanced battleships of China.”

The base began admitting visitors at around 8.20am, with officers from the Immigration Department deployed at the gate of the barracks to check identity cards.