Chinese University postpones visit by Hong Kong PLA troops

Chinese University postponed at the last minute a visit by the Hong Kong garrison of the People’s Liberation Army because the activity would have “failed to achieve its original purpose”.

The decision came after complaints from student leaders and alumni that the university should not be opening its doors to the PLA, which is supposed to be in the city only for defensive purposes.

The university said the visit, which was supposed to provide an opportunity for the institution and the garrison to learn about one another, would not take place as planned on Friday. No new date for the visit was given.

“The university and the garrison have decided after a discussion to postpone the visit, after considering that there were some people who had misunderstood the event, and therefore it would not be able to achieve its original purpose,” the statement said.

The announcement came after the university last month extended an invitation to its students to take part in the event.

A spokeswoman said a preliminary plan for the one-day event had included sightseeing around the university campus for the soldiers, a seminar, and a basketball game between students and troops. She said the plans were subject to change however.