China's military promises to uphold "national sovereignty" in Hong Kong. Beijing's top military commander made this statement ahead of expected anti-government protests.
Chen Daoxiang, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) commander in Hong Kong, stressed that they will uphold "national sovereignty" in Hong Kong.
His statement comes days after China proposed a new national security law in Hong Kong. Some observers deem the law as a threat to many of Hong Kong's civil liberties and political freedoms.
"Garrison officers and soldiers are determined, confident, and capable of safeguarding national sovereignty and development interests and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong," Chen said Tuesday. He noted that the Hong Kong Garrison sees the national security law as "conducive to deter separatist forces and external intervention."
Reports show that several official departments in Hong Kong expressed support for the proposed national security law, including the fire department, the police, and the Government Flying Service. The PLA Garrison has issued the same statements about its role in the past.
Potential PLA deployment
Beijing's proposed national security law in the semi-autonomous city sparked concerns about the deployment of the PLA into the streets once violent protests emerge.
The law also allows Chinese security services to operate in Hong Kong for the first time. Meanwhile, the national security laws China has are known as instruments for targeting lawyers, human rights activists, journalists and pro-democracy campaigners.
Several people within the city and from the international community are enraged by the proposed national security law in Hong Kong.
This week, the Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily published a full-page insert calling on US President Donald Trump to make an intervention on the city's behalf. Jimmy Lai, the paper's publisher, told CNN that "is the only one who can save us."
An unauthorized protest took place last Sunday in response to the proposed national security legislation. Police dispersed thousands of protesters with tear gas, baton charges and water cannon.
Protesters may also hold a rally on Wednesday, the day Hong Kong legislators will discuss a proposed national anthem law. While this is not associated with the new national security bill, it is a law that Beijing also implements in its own country.
"Bigger benefit"
Protesters are asking people to rally on with them outside the legislative council on Wednesday in an attempt to prevent legislators from discussing another dubious bill with China.
However, thousands of police officers will be deployed to ensure an already fortified legislature.
Meanwhile, the city's leader Carrie Lam told Hong Kongers that they should not be alarmed with the law. She did not mention any specific fears but pointed out the law had yet to be drafted.
"There is no need for us to worry because in the last 23 years whenever people worried about Hong Kong's freedoms of speech and freedoms of expressions and protest, time and again Hong Kong has proven that we uphold and preserve those values," she said.
"I think the best thing is to see the legislation in front of us, and to understand why at this point in time Hong Kong needs this piece of legislation, for the bigger benefit of the great majority of Hong Kong people."
