Govt Urged To Delay Central Site Transfer To PLA

The Alliance on Protection of Harbourfront on Wednesday held a demonstration outside the government's headquarters to demand that the government delay the transfer of a Central promenade site to the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The PLA is to take control of the 0.3 hectare area on Saturday. The army has said it will allow public access to the area when it's not being used by the military.

Members of the alliance, along with four pro-democracy legislators, staged a demonstration ahead of a Legco debate on the issue, urging pro-Beijing lawmakers to back a delay in the handover of the site.

Lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Chu Hoi-dick have put forward amendments to either repeal or postpone the handover by one or two years.

Chu said it would be unprecedented for land right in the heart of Hong Kong to be guarded by people employed by the PLA, even though it is not a military zone.

"So we have many questions, regarding the enforcement of laws and I definitely foresee that there will be protests starting from June 29," he said.