Chinese army free to send soldiers to perform volunteer work outside of barracks, says Hong Kong security minister
- Secretary for Security John Lee dismissed concerns of pan-democratic lawmakers but admitted the government had no record of PLA activities
- Hong Kong-based troops were recently deployed to help with country park clean-ups after Typhoon Mangkhut
The Chinese army’s Hong Kong garrison can freely decide on sending soldiers to perform volunteer service outside military sites, said the city’s security minister, and the local government has no record of how many such occasions this has occurred on.
Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu also played down worries raised by pan-democratic lawmakers and argued that the city should be thankful for the People’s Liberation Army’s help.
Lee addressed the issue on Wednesday in Legislative Council, as People Power lawmaker Raymond Chan Chi-chuen filed a question following up on the first incidence of soldiers helping with the clean-up of country parks after Typhoon Mangkhut battered the city in September.
It is not a requirement or a restriction under the Basic Law, Garrison Law and the laws in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Garrison to seek the approval of the government
Last month, more than 400 uniformed PLA soldiers were sent in batches to Hong Kong’s country parks to help remove trees felled during the storm. The government later said local officials did not request this help and that it was a voluntary community service.
Under Hong Kong’s Garrison Law, the PLA must not interfere in local affairs but troops can be called out to help with disaster relief if requested by the Hong Kong government. Such a request has never been made since the city returned to Chinese rule 21 years ago.
Referring to the country park clean-up, Lee said the law did not apply, as the army took part in the charitable activity on invitation. Yet, he said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department was notified in advance about the arrangement by the organiser.
“It is not a requirement or a restriction under the Basic Law, Garrison Law and the laws in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Garrison to seek the approval of the government … before conducting any charitable activities,” Lee said. The Basic Law is Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.