Hong Kong garrison releases video of anti-riot drills featuring tanks, snipers and red warning flags
A still from the PLA garrison’s video showing anti-riot drills and issuing warnings to rioters.The chief of the Chinese military garrison in Hong Kong has warned that violent clashes in the city will not be tolerated and said the army is 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 that stated 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.”
Chen’s comments marked the first time he had commented on Hong Kong since protests erupted in early June against the city’s controversial extradition bill. The bill proposed the transfer of suspects to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong has no extradition agreement, including mainland China.
“Recently, there have been a series of 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’.
“This should not be tolerated and we express our strong condemnation.”
“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.
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.
Hong Kong and mainland government officials said the vandalism of the central government’s liaison office building in Hong Kong on July 21 – during which the national emblem was sprayed with graffiti – should not be tolerated.