China ready to deploy troops in Hong Kong

China has publicly addressed the possibility of deploying the army to contain the unrest in Hong Kong for the first time, suggesting that soldiers could be sent in at the request of officials in the territory.

China’s Defence Ministry said it was closely following developments and that the Government of Hong Kong had the legal right to call in the military to maintain social order. Asked how the ministry would handle the situation, a spokesman said only that “Article 14 of the garrison law has clear stipulations”.

Although he did not explicitly offer to send in the military, the comments mark a change in tone in recent days following violence blamed on triad gangs in Hong Kong at the weekend. Beijing has until now suggested that Hong Kong authorities can deal with the unrest themselves, and has refrained from mentioning the deployment of soldiers.

Article 14 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, states: “Military forces stationed by the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for defence shall not interfere in the local affairs of the region.” It goes on: “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, when necessary, ask the Central People’s Government for assistance from the garrison in the maintenance of public order and in disaster relief.”

The People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison has been stationed in Hong Kong since Britain returned sovereignty to China in 1997.

The troop is responsible for defence duties in Hong Kong and safeguarding national sovereignty.

Hong Kong government documents have estimated the number of troops is between 8000 to 10,000 personnel. Beijing has been monitoring the situation in Hong Kong from a distance and remained hands-off during last month’s mass demonstrations.