Chinese Army helping Macau relief operations in wake of Typhoon Hato is ‘warning for Hong Kong’
The help of People’s Liberation Army is allowed for disaster relief under cities’ mini-constitutions, but one commentator described a similar scene in Hong Kong as ‘unthinkable’ and that it would cause ‘public outcry’
Although Macau residents readily welcomed the help of the People’s Liberation Army in cleaning and relief operations after Wednesday’s devastating typhoon, the move is a cautionary warning to Hong Kong on being well-prepared for natural disasters, commentators said on Friday.
After Typhoon Hato, the worst storm in more than half a century to hit the former Portuguese enclave, left 10 dead, more than 200 people hurt and streets carpeted with rubbish, Macau people were happy to let the soldiers march in.
The help of the PLA is allowed for disaster relief, under the Basic Law of both Macau and Hong Kong, if the government of the Special Administrative Region in question requests it.
But Dr Chung Kim-wah, a political scientist at Polytechnic University, said: “If the same happened in Hong Kong, it would be unbelievable. A public outcry could be expected.
Chinese army garrison called in to help Macau rescue and recovery efforts in wake of Typhoon Hato
Hong Kong people’s mentality was that “under ‘one country two systems’, we should avoid the scene as much as we can for fear of encouraging Beijing’s interference.”