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Hong Kong Garrison

The Chinese Central People's Government (CPG) resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, and stationed a garrison of the PLA in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to take charge of its defense affairs. The stationing of the PLA troops in the Region is an important symbol of the Chinese government's resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. It is also an important guarantee for the preservation of state sovereignty and security and the maintenance of the Region's long-term prosperity and stability.

The Basic Law provides that the CPG shall be responsible for the defence of the HKSAR and shall bear the expenditure for the garrison. Military forces stationed in the HKSAR shall not interfere in the local affairs of the Region and the HKSAR Government shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order in the Region. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Forces Hong Kong (Hong Kong Garrison) formally stationed in the HKSAR assumed defence responsibility for Hong Kong with effect from zero hour on July 1, 1997.

The PLA Forces Hong Kong comprise army, navy and air force units so as to reflect the PRC's sovereignty over HKSAR's territorial land, waters and airspace, and it is subject to the direction of the Central Military Commission. The Hong Kong Garrison is deployed at 14 military sites in the HKSAR with some of the army, navy and air force units stationed in the mainland of China.

The 'Law of the People's Republic of China on the Garrisoning of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region' (the Garrison Law), which was added to Annex III of the Basic Law, ensures the lawful performance of functions and responsibilities by the PLA Forces Hong Kong to maintain the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the State and the security of Hong Kong.

The PLA troops entered Hong Kong strictly in accordance with provisions of the law. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC, passed at the Third Session of the Seventh NPC in April, 1990, clearly stipulated that the Central People's Government shall be responsible for administrating the defense affairs of the HKSAR. The Garrison Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC was approved at the 23rd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eighth NPC in December 1996, and came into effect on July 1, 1997. The Garrison Law stipulates that the Hong Kong Garrison shall not interfere in the local affairs of the HKSAR; that its duties are to perform routine defense service, administrate military facilities, handle relevant foreign-related military affairs, and ensure the security and stability of Hong Kong; that its expenditures shall be borne by the Central People's Government; and that the garrison troops shall be rotated. The law contains specific provisions on the duties and rules of discipline of the garrison personnel, the judicature and other questions, fundamentally guaranteeing that the Hong Kong Garrison fulfils its defense functions along legal lines.

The PLA Hong Kong Garrison, composed of ground, naval and air forces, is under the direction of the Central Military Commission of the PRC. While performing its defense duties, the Hong Kong Garrison must abide by both national and HKSAR laws, as well as the current rules and regulations of the PLA.

After its entry into Hong Kong, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison abided strictly by the Basic Law and the Garrison Law, fulfilled its defense duties within legal framework, actively organized military training, strengthened army-building along regularization lines, studied Hong Kong's related laws, and acquainted the rank and file with the social conditions in Hong Kong. According to the Garrison Law, the Garrison established working contacts with the HKSAR government, and opened the barracks on the Stonecutters Island and Chek Chu to the public to promote Hong Kong compatriots' understanding of and trust in the garrison troops.

It is a long-term task for the PLA Hong Kong Garrison to fulfil its responsibility for Hong Kong's defense affairs. The garrison troops will consistently adhere to the principle of ``one country, two systems,'' strictly abide by the Basic Law and the Garrison Law, and contribute to the preservation of the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.