BFF-15 China defends brief troop deployment in Hong Kong

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BFF-15

HONGKONG-CHINA-PROTESTS-MILITARY

China defends brief troop deployment in Hong Kong

BANGKOK, Nov 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – China’s military on Monday defended a
brief deployment of soldiers onto Hong Kong’s streets, as it warned ending
violence was the “most pressing task” in the city.

Dozens of soldiers emerged from their barracks in Hong Kong on Saturday to
help clean up nearby streets of debris and barricades strewn out by pro-
democracy protesters.

The brief clean-up operation came at the end of a week of particularly
intense clashes between police and protesters that had caused chaos across
Hong Kong.

“There were some Hong Kong citizens clearing roadblocks near the PLA Hong
Kong garrison,” Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at
a security event in Bangkok when asked about the brief deployment.

“The soldiers from the PLA Hong Kong garrison joined these citizens in
clearing these roadblocks and their efforts were welcomed by Hong Kong
citizens.”

Throughout the crisis, China has repeatedly warned that it will not give
in to any of the protesters’ demands, and that it will not tolerate enduring
violence in the city.

After another weekend of violence and protesters setting fire to the
entrance of a university entrance on Monday morning to defend themselves from
police, Wu issued another warning.

“Ending violence and restoring order is the most pressing task we have in
Hong Kong,” Wu said after China’s defence minister Wei Fenghe met his US
counterpart, Mark Esper, in Bangkok.

China’s People Liberations’ Army has maintained a garrison in Hong Kong
since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997.

But its troops rarely leave their barracks. The last time soldiers were
seen on Hong Kong’s streets was in 2018 to clean up after a typhoon.

According to Hong Kong’s Basic Law, troops from mainland China can operate
in the city if local authorities request it.

Hong Kong authorities may, “when necessary”, ask the central government
for assistance from the garrison “in the maintenance of public order and in
disaster relief”, according to Article 14.

Article 18 of the Basic Law allows the central government to effectively
suspend Hong Kong’s laws if there is a “state of war” or “turmoil” which
“endangers national security or unity”.

Hong Kong’s government said on Saturday that it did not request the
Chinese troops to clean up the streets.

BSS/AFP/MSY/1212 hrs