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The People's Liberation Army Hong Kong garrison held a live-fire military drill on Saturday morning to ready its defensive posture against the possibility of militants bent on causing “destruction” in the city, it said.
This is the first time the garrison opened the military exercise, which took place at the Castle Peak Firing Range, to the local media. 
The high-profile drill came just days after China’s legislature passed a sweeping and controversial national security law covering a wide range of state interests, including its military actions overseas. 
This has stoked fears that greater limits may be placed on people’s freedom.

It also came a week after journalists were permitted to enter the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong to wait for 40 pro-establishment lawmakers who were having tea with office director Zhang Xiaoming.
During the drill, six military helicopters were mobilised to fire on targets marked on mountains from distances of up to 1km. Mortars and rocket-propelled grenades were also used in the exercise.
Among the several hundred guests were liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming, Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok, Chinese University President Joseph J.Y. Sung, University of Hong Kong President Peter Mathieson, and James Tien of the Liberal Party. 

Some of the dignitaries were quick to downplay the significance of the timing of the drill, especially in relation to the new regulation from Beijing.
"I don't think we need to read too much into the timing,” said Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, Hong Kong’s former security chief.
“The garrison has a duty to assure that they are well-prepared and ready to defend Hong Kong if there is any threat to our society.”

Military commentator Ma Ding-shing, who also attended the drill, stressed that it was not a one-off event.
"This is not the first time [it has taken place], and it certainly won’t be the last," he said.
In March 2013, the garrison held two live-fire military drills. In July of that same year, two new warships joined an air-and-sea drill held in Hong Kong. 
In January 2014, the PLA staged an air-and-sea drill across Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour. 
This was widely interpreted as a warning directed at the leaders of the emerging Occupy movement, which overran parts of the city for several months last fall amid calls for fairer political representation.


Hong Kong military drill stokes fears in wake of Beijing’s new security law

The military put on a strong show of force in Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong

Precision-target bombing stunned onlookers. Photo: Felix Wong

Evacuating the wounded. No one gets left behind. Photo: Felix Wong

The garrison held another drill at the start of the month to mark the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China in 1997. Photo: AFP 

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