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Cary Huang

Choi Chi-yuk

Minnie Chan

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to review troops at the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison as part of events to mark the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese sovereignty, according to the former PLA commander.
“It is standard practice for there to be a military review but the Central Military Commission has not yet made a final decision,” said General Zhang Shibo, a former PLA Hong Kong garrison commander.
Under the Basic Law, the central government is responsible for the defence of Hong Kong. Stationing troops in the city is also seen as a major symbol of Beijing’s sovereignty over the territory but PLA personnel have maintained a low-key presence and are rarely seen in public.
Xi Jinping appoints new man to tackle PLA corruption
Zhang, who chaired a military parade reviewed by former president Hu Jintao in 2012, said Hu twice visited PLA facilities in Hong Kong, reviewing the Shek Kong base in 2012 and the Stonecutters Island naval base in 2007.
As CMC chairman, Xi is commander in chief of the People’s Liberation Army.
Zhang, who has just retired as head of the PLA National Defence University, said all former PLA Hong Kong garrison officers were invited to attend the 20th anniversary events.
It has become a custom for the national leader to visit Hong Kong every five years to mark the handover, overseeing the swearing in of the city’s chief executive, whose term is also for five years.
Hu’s predecessor, Jiang Zemin, made the trip to Hong Kong in 2002 but did not review troops in the city.

 

Ex-general calls for 12 per cent increase in China’s military spending
Zhang was the Hong Kong garrison’s commander in chief between 2008 and 2012 before a promotion to head up the former Beijing Military Region.
In an effort to promote trust between the troops and members of the public, the PLA opens its facilities on Stonecutters Island and in Stanley to the public each year. The garrison includes army, navy and air force personnel who are under the CMC’s direct leadership.




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Xi Jinping likely to preside over military parade in Hong Kong handover anniversary

Xi Jinping reviews the parade soldiers at the military parade in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Photo: Simon Song

Chinese President Hu Jintao inspects the People's Liberation Army Garrison during a visit to the Stonecutters Naval Base in Hong Kong. Hu is on a three-day visit to Hong Kong to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule.30 June 2007 ***NOT FOR ADVERTISING USE***

Hong Kong police water cannons unlikely to be ready for possible handover 20th anniversary trouble

The police fired tear gas in the early days of the Occupy protests in 2014. Officers now want water cannons to deal with future trouble. Photo: Sam Tsang

Graphic

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Tony Wong Chi-hung attends the Cyber Security Summit 2016 kick-off ceremony at Science Park in Sha Tin. 16MAY16 SCMP/ David Wong

Police stand in the Mong Kok area of Hong Kong, on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Rioters set fires and threw bricks at police in Hong Kong early Tuesday, injuring officers and shuttering one of the city's busiest subway stations in a clash over illegal food stalls during the three-day Chinese New Year holiday. Photographer: Billy H.C. Kwok/Bloomberg ORG XMIT: 604115421