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Hong Kong
1988
Launched by Princess Alexandra and accepted into service October 1983,as the first of five patrol vessels of the Peacock class. The ships were built by Hall, Russell & Company in the United Kingdom and were commissioned into Royal Navy service from 1983 to 1984. The class was designed specifically for patrol duties in Hong Kong waters. As well as ‘flying the flag’ and providing a constant naval presence in region, they could undertake a number of different roles including Seamanship, Navigation and Gunnery training and Search-and-Rescue duties for which they had facilities to carry divers (including a decompression chamber) and equipment to recover vessels and aircraft. They also worked with the Marine Department of the Hong Kong Police and with Customs & Excise in order to prevent the constant flow of illegal immigrants, narcotics and electronic equipment into the Colony.

Out of the five ships in its class, three of them, HMS Peacock (P239), HMS Plover (P240), and HMS Starling (P241), were left in Hong Kong until 1997. They were sold to the Philippines as a sign of goodwill for US$ 20 Million, and were officially turned over to the Philippine Navy on 1 August 1997 when Hong Kong was ceded back to China

Fate of vessels


Peacock Transferred to the Philippines on August 1st 1997 and renamed Emilio Jacinto.
Plover Transferred to the Philippines on August 1st 1997 and renamed Apolinario Mabini.
Swallow Transferred to Irish Navy 1988 and renamed Ciara (P42).
Swift Transferred to Irish Navy 1988 and renamed Orla (P41).
Starling Transferred to the Philippines on August 1st 1997 and renamed Artemio Ricarte.