An officer of the visiting People's Liberation Army Navy fleet said on Thursday he felt a surge of excitement over how nice and friendly locals were in welcoming its arrival.

The fleet, led by the Shandong aircraft carrier, is in town for five days, with some of the vessels open to public visits over the weekend.

Colonel Wu Kang said at the SAR government's welcoming ceremony that more than 700 sailors on board the vessels lined up in a way that showed the words "secure country, sweet home" in Chinese.

"[We] demonstrated our deep blessings for patriotism and love for Hong Kong, as well as our well wishes for the compatriots in Hong Kong," he said after the ceremony held on Stonecutters Island.

The colonel described the fleet as an active powerful naval brigade that can traverse thousands of miles and engage in long-distance battles.

He said patriots from Hong Kong and Macau will be invited to board Shandong on Thursday night and that sailors will meet local students on Friday to talk about national defence.

Wu went on to say that sailors will also get together with Hong Kong-based PLA soldiers and the SAR's disciplined-services personnel for activities such as as football and seminars.

Students and teachers from the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers Wong Cho Bau Secondary School and Fukien Secondary School were at the ceremony.

"I'm very excited and proud that the fleet's in town," a student told RTHK.

"I'm deeply aware of the strengths of the navy and our country's national defence efforts, so I can't help but feel a strong sense of national pride."

A teacher said the activities are important opportunities to promote national security and patriotic education.