Chinese army’s Hong Kong chief says troops are ready to protect nation’s sovereignty
- Commander of People’s Liberation Army’s Hong Kong garrison comments on Hong Kong for first time since protests against extradition bill began in June
- Garrison releases three-minute propaganda video that includes anti-riot drills and refers to Hong Kong
The chief of the Chinese military garrison in Hong Kong has spoken for the first time about the ongoing unrest in the city, warning that violent clashes would not be tolerated and that the army was determined to protect China’s sovereignty.
Chen Daoxiang, the commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) Hong Kong garrison, made the warning at a reception in Hong Kong celebrating the 92nd anniversary of the Chinese military on Wednesday, when the garrison also released a promotional video showing various activities and stating that troops stationed in the city were able to protect its long-term stability.
One of the scenes in the video features a soldier shouting in Cantonese during an anti-riot drill: “All consequences are at your own risk.”
“Recently, there have been a series of extremely violent incidents happening in Hong Kong,” he said at the reception, held at the garrison’s central barracks in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island.
“This has damaged the prosperity and stability of the city, and challenged the rule of law and social order. The incidents have seriously threatened the life and safety of Hong Kong citizens, and violated the bottom line of ‘one country, two systems’,” he said.
“This should not be tolerated and we express our strong condemnation.”
Will China send in the troops to stamp out protests in Hong Kong?
Chen said the garrison resolutely supported Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and the city’s police in maintaining law and order.
“We resolutely support the action to maintain Hong Kong’s rule of law by the people who love the nation and the city, and we are determined to protect national sovereignty, security, stability and the prosperity of Hong Kong,” he said.
The PLA would adhere to the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, as well as to the Hong Kong Garrison Law and the direction of the Central Military Commission, headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chen said.
Lam and Hong Kong’s former leader Tung Chee-hwa both attended the reception.
The Hong Kong garrison released a three-minute video on Wednesday, showing anti-terrorism and anti-riot drills. Tanks are mobilised in some of the drills.
In an anti-riot exercise, troops are seen marching with a red warning flag telling rioters to “stop charging, or we use force”.
“All consequences are at your own risk,” a solider yells.
Beijing tells Hong Kong return to normality ‘the most pressing priority’
Concerns over whether the PLA could become involved in maintaining order have been heightened with protests continuing in Hong Kong against the now suspended extradition bill. Some of the protests have ended in violent clashes.
The Hong Kong government said earlier that the city was fully capable of dealing with its own affairs and maintaining public order, and there was no need for help from the garrison.
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of Global Times, a mainland tabloid newspaper published under People’s Daily, said last week that troops should be deployed in Hong Kong only in the event of the city being turned into an anti-China base by the US, a humanitarian disaster, or armed riots by radicals trying to take control of the city’s nerve centre.
