PLA’s Hong Kong garrison tipped to stay under Central Military Commission’s direct control despite shake-up

The PLA’s Hong Kong garrison is likely to remain under the direct command of the all-powerful Central Military Commission once a sweeping military overhaul is complete, analysts said yesterday.

The Hong Kong garrison has been under the CMC’s direct command since the handover on July 1, 1997 and is funded and staffed by the central government. It must abide by all the local laws of Hong Kong, including the Basic Law and the Garrison Law.

But the garrison has also been administered by the Guangzhou military area command, the source of most of the garrison’s commanders and military commissars.

In the ongoing restructure of the People’s Liberation Army , the Guangzhou military area command has been renamed the South Combat Zone and will be responsible for maritime security in the South China Sea.

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Beijing-based military analyst Xu Guangyu said that despite the restructuring of the Guangzhou command, the Hong Kong garrison would probably continue to stay under the CMC and receive logistical support from the new South zone because of the garrison’s political significance.

“It is a political symbol of Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong,” Xu said.