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Hong Kong has never had its own military forces because it is not nor ever was a sovereign state. All defense matters have been dependent on the state which controls Hong Kong. Before the British handover to PRC sovereignty, defense were provided by the British military, who stationed soldiers in barracks throughout Hong Kong, including the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong.Its finance was supported by Hong Kong government. The People's Republic of China Central People's Government (CPG) assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 and stationed a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to manage its defense affairs. Although the garrison has little practical military significance, the stationing of the PLA troops in the Hong Kong is a significant symbol of the PRC government's assumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong's Basic Law, military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere with local civil affairs; the Hong Kong government shall remain responsible for the maintenance of public order. The Hong Kong Garrison, composed of ground, naval, and air forces, is under the command of the Chinese Central Military Commission. The garrison subsequently opened the barracks on Stonecutters Island and Chek Chu to the public to promote understanding and trust between the troops and residents. Under British rule, ethnic Chinese Hong Kong residents (and other Hong Kong residents) were able to join the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. However, after handover in 1997, no Hong Kong resident is allowed to join the PLA. |
Hong Kong Information: Inside
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