PLA HK Garrison determined to protect China's sovereignty

The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is determined to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests and to ensure Hong Kong's long-term stability as well as prosperity, said a Defense Ministry spokesman on Thursday.

Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang said at a news conference in Beijing that the garrison is always ready to follow orders from the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Central Military Commission and is confident and capable of carrying out its missions set by the Basic Law and Garrison Law.

Ren said the Nov 14 remarks by President Xi Jinping on Hong Kong's recent situations have pointed out the direction and path on stabilizing the special administrative region.

The president made a clear stance on the Hong Kong situation when addressing the BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil. He said ending violence and chaos and restoring order remain the most urgent task for Hong Kong at present.

He said the radical criminal acts taking place in Hong Kong have grossly trampled the rule of law and social order, seriously harmed the prosperity and stability of the special administrative region, and severely challenged the bottom-line of the principle of the "one country, two systems".

The Chinese government has strong and firm resolve to safeguard its sovereign, security and development interests, implement the principle of "one country, two systems" and oppose any external forces interfering in the Hong Kong affairs, Xi said.

Responding to question on recent moves by troops from the PLA Hong Kong Garrison to assist local people clear trash on streets near their barrack, Ren said on the Thursday news conference that their acts were voluntary and intended to serve local people and were irrelevant to the so-called violation of the Garrison Law and the principle of "one country, two systems".

The spokesman said such moves showed the soldiers' love and care for Hong Kong people.