Hong Kong garrison pledges to allow public access to People’s Liberation Army military site on Central waterfront, whenever possible
- Commander of PLA’s Hong Kong base says it will show its love for the city by opening up scenic site to the public when operations permit
- Tuesday’s official handover marks the final transfer of 19 military sites from Hong Kong to the army
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will open to the public a Hong Kong waterfront site designated for military use when defence operations allow, the city’s garrison commander has said.
Chen Daoxiang’s access pledge was made at Tuesday’s official handover ceremony of the military dock in Central, the last of 19 Hong Kong sites to be transferred to the garrison.
“The garrison will continue to use and manage [the site] strictly in accordance with the law … At the same time, the garrison will show its consistency in loving Hong Kong and the people, and open the military dock for the public if defence operations allow,” the commander said.
The scenic strip running 150 metres (492 feet) along Central promenade became a military site last June. The government said it had since been constructing the docks and carrying out administrative tasks ahead of the official handover, which was held at its headquarters on Tuesday morning.
Responding to concerns previously raised by a civic group and opposition lawmakers that the government was failing to deliver on its promise to allow public access to the site, when it was not used by vessels, the city’s leader reiterated the decision had always rested with the garrison.
“Defence is of utmost importance to the country and must be fully safeguarded. No persons can enter military sites without authorisation,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday.
“The [garrison] has agreed to consider opening the military dock on a discretionary basis to allow the public to enter the non-restricted area of the military dock, under the condition that defence work would not be affected.”
She added the design of the military dock was in harmony with the surrounding park area and the view of the Victoria Harbour. Movable gates are installed on three sides of the site to allow members of the public to walk through.