People in HK ‘eager to know about PLA’

More than 70 percent of Hong Kong people surveyed want to know more about the People’s Liberation Army, survey results released by the city’s largest political party in the run up to Army Day on Aug 1 indicate.

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong survey about Hong Kong people’s awareness of the PLA was the first such review the party had published, DAB Vice-Chairman Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan told reporters on Wednesday.

From June 27 to July 3, the survey queried 713 Hong Kong citizens aged above 12 and selected randomly though phone interviews.

The survey found 73.3 percent of respondents wanted to know more about the PLA, while 71 percent thought more events should be held to give Hong Kong people greater exposure to national defense and foreign policies, the survey showed.

Meanwhile, 74 percent of interviewees know the establishment date of the PLA while 60 percent agreed that Hong Kong people should be allowed to serve voluntarily in the PLA.

For now, there is no policy in place for Hong Kong residents to take up military service. Under Article 14 of the Basic Law, the central government is responsible for the defense of Hong Kong.

To permit service, the DAB will submit proposals to the central government as well as the special administrative region government, said Cheung, who is also a Hong Kong lawmaker.

The party also suggested the PLA’s Hong Kong Garrison could offer more opportunities for Hong Kong people to know about the army by opening to citizens more frequently and having larger quotas for visits.

The local garrison holds open days for the public to visit some of their barracks each year, usually around the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland on July 1. But there were often not enough tickets offered to interested citizens, the DAB said.

The garrison was advised to increase interaction with local citizens by visiting charity organizations in the city or educating Hong Kong teenagers about teamwork and selfdiscipline, the survey reads.

A Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong survey conducted from June 27 to July 3 showed more than 70 percent of the 713 respondents wanted more knowledge about and contact with the Hong Kong Garrison of the People’s Liberation Army. Nearly half the respondents approved the idea of letting Hong Kong residents join the PLA. If public opinion indicated here is correct, this should give the PLA garrison in Hong Kong a good opportunity to take a more active role in engaging with the local community.

The outcome of the survey came as no surprise as the PLA garrison actually has a special place in the hearts of the local populace. The annual openings of the PLA barracks have attracted hundreds of thousands of local residents impressed with the advanced weaponry as well as by the soldiers’ physical fitness and many abilities. Apart from their military prowess, the garrison also expresses its respect and concern for the local community through their annual blood donation campaign as well as the Military Summer Camp for Hong Kong Youth, which has provided military training to thousands of teenagers who previously never left the comfort of their parents’ care. The PLA has shown that they do not only protect, they also serve and care for the Hong Kong community.

Sadly, there are always some people obsessed with opposing anything connected to the mainland — particularly the PLA. But anyone who has some knowledge of the conduct of the British garrison before 1997 and visiting sailors from the United States Navy during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) will scoff at those who attempt to smear the image of the PLA garrison and spread unwarranted fears about PLA soldiers. Back then, British soldiers and US sailors frequented local bars and brothels, got into brawls and engaged in other illegal activities. PLA soldiers, on the other hand, have maintained an excellent behavior record since the garrison was stationed here 21 years ago.

With their reputation for discipline and Hong Kong people’s growing trust in them, the PLA garrison could reach out more to the local community through such activities as conducting talks and exhibitions in schools and hosting seminars and exchange programs. They could consider participating in festive parades and even fielding teams to participate in local sports. The local soccer league, for instance, used to feature some teams from the British garrison.

On the other hand, if Hong Kong’s youngsters are allowed to join the PLA, our young generation would develop a much stronger sense of national identity. The fact that close to half of those interviewed in the survey expressed their approval indicates it is an idea which is probably much more popular than many would imagine.