PLA security role claim dismissed

16-06-2012

Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee. File photo.

Police Commissioner Andy Tsang. File photo.

The Secretary for Security, Ambrose Lee, has dismissed as "nonsense" suggestions that the government has asked Beijing to send more People's Liberation Army troops to the city to help maintain order.

His comments follow a report by the Oriental Daily that around a dozen armoured vehicles from the PLA crossed into Hong Kong from the mainland on Thursday night. The report said the vehicles were taken to Shek Kong Barracks ahead of the July 1 visit of Hu Jintao to the territory.

Mr Lee said the PLA has been carrying out a routine reshuffle at the Hong Kong garrison.

The Police Commissioner, Andy Tsang, said claims that the PLA armoured vehicles were here to help deal with July 1 protesters were groundless. Mr Tsang pointed out that the police force had issued a letter of no objection to rally organisers.

Meanwhile, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Rita Fan, said it would be" impossible" for the PLA to be involved in maintaining social order here.