Hong Kong-based PLA troops invite media to live-fire exercise days after passage of national security law

The Hong Kong Garrison of the People's Liberation Army staged a full-scale military exercise yesterday and for the first time allowed the media to witness the firepower at their disposal.

The PLA said the high-profile live-fire drill in Tuen Mun simulated an attack on "militants'' hiding out in the Castle Peak as they prepared to cause "destruction" to the city.

The 45-minute drill took place three days after China's legislature passed a sweeping and controversial national security law that has stoked fears of greater limits on citizens' freedoms.

While guests at the drill insisted that the timing of the exercise was unimportant, and that the PLA was merely trying to show Hong Kong that it had the power to protect the city, a noted China watcher suggested otherwise.

"It took place soon after the national security law was passed on July 1. The passage has already shown that [Beijing] is keeping a close watch of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan," said commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu.

"[The drill] is not just about deterring pro-independence ideology, it is also a show of strength to foreign forces that Beijing accuses of meddling in Hong Kong's affairs."

During the drill at the Castle Peak Firing Range, six military helicopters were mobilised fired on targets set up on the mountain from distances of about 1km.