Chinese military official in Hong Kong vows to combat ‘evil separatist forces’ and safeguard city’s prosperity and stability

Statement comes as unrest over now-abandoned extradition bill gradually transforms into a movement against government and police in Hong Kong

Last Wednesday, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director warned Beijing would not sit by if crisis escalated beyond local government’s control

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Deputy political commissar of the Chinese military garrison in Hong Kong Chen Yading says the PLA has been actively taking part in charities to ‘strengthen the blood-and-flesh connection’ with local citizens. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 3:02pm, 9 Aug 2019Updated: 3:50pm, 9 Aug 2019

The deputy political commissar of the Chinese military garrison in Hong Kong has vowed to combat “evil separatist forces” and safeguard the city’s prosperity and stability.

Chen Yading’s remarks on Friday came amid the ongoing unrest in the city sparked by the now-suspended extradition bill, which would have allowed the handover of criminal suspects to jurisdictions with which the city does not have such an agreement, including mainland China.

“The garrison will continue its tradition to safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, and will be determined to combat evil separatist forces,” Chen said on the sidelines of the army’s annual blood donation drive on Friday morning.

He said the People’s Liberation Army’s Hong Kong garrison had been actively taking part in charities to “strengthen the blood-and-flesh connection” with local citizens.

Some 390 male and 11 female soldiers donated blood in the annual event at PLA Hospital in Jordan. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Last Wednesday, Chen Daoxiang, the commander of the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison, warned that violent clashes would not be tolerated, adding that the army was determined to protect China’s sovereignty.