Defence Ministry 'keeping Close Eye' On HK Unrest

"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

Related News Programmes

"); });

2019-07-24 HKT 12:17

Share this story

facebook

  • A defence ministry spokesman says there are clear rules regarding the deployment of PLA troops in Hong Kong. Image: Shutterstock

    A defence ministry spokesman says there are clear rules regarding the deployment of PLA troops in Hong Kong. Image: Shutterstock

The defence ministry said on Wednesday that it is keeping a close eye on the ongoing turmoil in Hong Kong, as it appeared to confirm that deploying the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to keep order is an option on the table.

Spokesman Wu Qian said at a press conference in Beijing that the ministry is "closely monitoring developments" in the SAR, referring to the weeks of protests over the now-suspended extradition law bill.

Asked whether the PLA could be deployed to help maintain order, Wu said only that Article 14 of Chapter 3 of the Garrison Law has clear stipulations regarding such a scenario.

Article 14 says the SAR government can ask the Hong Kong Garrison to send troops into the city to maintain public order if necessary.

He refused to answer questions from reporters as to what kind of scenario would warrant such a deployment.

Wu also reiterated Beijing's stance that the vandalism of the liaison office on Sunday night, which saw the building pelted with eggs and paint, cannot be tolerated.

"We've been closely monitoring developments in Hong Kong, especially the protest and violence on July 21, as well as the storming of the liaison office. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has already responded earlier that it is not acceptable for anybody to challenge the country's authority and the One Country Two Systems principle," he said.

The spokesman's comments came during a press conference to introduce a new white paper on national defence.

RECENT NEWS

Eric Trump To Speak At Bitcoin Asia 2025 In Hong Kong

Eric Trump, the second son of US president Donald Trump, is set to speak at the upcoming Bitcoin Asia 2025 conference i... Read more

Hong Kong Digital Banking Survey Reveals User Concerns And Growth Potential

ECHO ASIA, partnering with students from Global Business Studies, CUHK Business School, announced the release of the H... Read more

InvestHK Attracts HK$160 Billion In 2025, With Fintech As Top Sector

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced on 7 July 2025 that it supported over 1,300 overseas and Mainland companies in se... Read more

ZhongAn Online Completes US$500M H Share Placement To Fuel Core Insurance Growth

ZhongAn Online P & C Insurance Co., Ltd (Zhong An, HKEX:6060) announced the completion of its H share placement on ... Read more

Beyond KYC: How Technology Is Transforming The Fraud Prevention Game

Digital wallets and cryptocurrencies are two of the most targeted channels for fraud this year, according to SEON’s 2... Read more

2025 Hong Kong Fintech Report: What You Need To Know

Hong Kong is hitting the gas when it comes to fintech innovation, regulation and adoption. From the passage of the Stab... Read more