Chinese army promotes new political commissar at Hong Kong garrison
Major General Cai Yongzhong will take up senior post which was left vacant for almost six months
A senior role overseeing ideological work at the Chinese army’s Hong Kong garrison has been filled, after almost half a year vacant.
Major General Cai Yongzhong has been promoted to political commissar at the garrison. He replaces Lieutenant General Yue Shixin, who was transferred to serve as deputy political commissar at the Southern Theatre Command late last year, according to a statement by the garrison on Tuesday.
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The promotion was ordered by President Xi Jinping – who is also the head of the all-powerful Central Military Commission – and announced by the Southern Theatre Command chief, Vice-Admiral Yuan Yubai, during his visit to the Hong Kong garrison.
Cai said that during his three years as the deputy political commissar at the garrison, he “deeply felt Hong Kong’s important position and role in the nation’s security and its development strategy, and the strong vitality of the great policy of ‘one country two systems’”. The major general was referring to the model under which Hong Kong is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy from Beijing.
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He also pledged to protect the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests and safeguard Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity, according to the statement.