Government Stresses PLA Pier Obligation

The government on Saturday said the SAR was duty-bound to provide a military dock for the People's Liberation Army along the Central Waterfront, saying this dates back to a 1994 agreement between the UK and China. But it also said the PLA may consider opening up the strip when it's not needed, as long as its work wasn't affected.

It made the comment after anti-extradition protesters had briefly occupied the strip of waterfront land after 11 pm on Friday. That was just ahead of its transfer to the PLA at midnight on Saturday.

Riot police were called in and the protesters, who were shouting "Return the Harbourfront", were cleared just ahead of the deadline.

In a statement, the government said the dock was the only outstanding military facility yet to be handed over. Critics of the land transfer say it breaks up a core part the waterfront.

But the government was clear that there was no ambiguity about the PLA's right to use the land. And it warned that anyone entering, without permission, could face prison terms and fines.

It said the dock, and its four buildings, were now designated as a protected place and a closed area respectively. It said the penalty for entering the former was a prison term of six months and the latter two years.

The final obstacle to the controversial transfer was cleared on Thursday, after Legco president Andrew Leung adjourned proceedings. As the transfer fell under so-called negative vetting rules, the legislation didn't have to be voted on and it passed automatically.

The government said it will now complete the necessary work before handing over the completed dock to the garrison.

But it did appear to strike a conciliatory note. It said the garrison would, in future, consider opening the gates surrounding the dock to allow the public to pass through the parts that hadn't been designated a closed area, as long as this didn't interfere with the work of the garrison