Xi praises Hong Kong PLA garrison for city’s transition from ‘chaos’ to ‘stability’

President visits the Central Barracks during tour to mark 25th anniversary of city’s return to Chinese rule

This is the second time Xi has inspected the garrison during a handover anniversary

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Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong on Friday during his two-day tour to the city. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:21pm, 1 Jul 2022Updated: 6:49pm, 2 Jul 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong for its role in moving the city from “chaos” to “greater prosperity” during the second day of his tour to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule.

Xi made the comments during a visit to the Central Barracks on Friday after attending a ceremony to inaugurate Hong Kong’s new government.

Xi said the garrison had accomplished its missions over the past 25 years and followed the directive of the central authorities in Beijing.

“In the face of profound and complex changes in the situation in Hong Kong in recent years, the garrison in Hong Kong has effectively served the overall situation of the central government’s governance of Hong Kong and played an important role in the transition from chaos to stability in the city,” Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

“Hong Kong is at a critical period of transition from stability to greater prosperity, and the garrison in Hong Kong has heavy tasks and responsibilities.”

Xi, who also chairs the Central Military Commission (CMC), was escorted by CMC vice-chairman General Xu Qiliang, the PLA’s most senior ranking official, during his two-day trip.

Xi visited the barracks for about an hour before leaving Hong Kong.