BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Hu Jintao, chairman of the Central Military
Commission (CMC), has signed an order of commendation in honor of the People's
Liberation Army (PLA) troop stationed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (SAR).
On July 1, 1997, the day of Hong Kong's historic return to the motherland,
the PLA Hong Kong Garrison moved into the SAR on the orders of the CMC.
Over the past 10 years, the PLA Garrison has firmly implemented decisions
and orders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the
State Council and the CMC, and has always observed the Basic Law of Hong Kong
and the law governing the PLA garrison in the SAR, the order of commendation
says.
The PLA Garrison, which has respected the SAR Government and Hong Kong
people, has made an outstanding contribution to the prosperity and stability of
Hong Kong, it says.
It emphasizes that the PLA Hong Kong Garrison carries the sacred mission of
safeguarding China's sovereignty over Hong Kong, territorial integrity of the
nation and the security of Hong Kong. The garrison troops are also obliged to
help maintain social security, relieve disasters, and firmly maintain Hong
Kong's prosperity and stability, it says.
The CMC urges all troops of the PLA and the Chinese People's Armed Police
to follow the example of the Hong Kong garrison to ensure that they faithfully
and effectively fulfill their historical mission in the new era.
The CMC also held a ceremony in Hong Kong on Sunday to mark the10th
anniversary of the garrison's stationing in the SAR.
Tung Chee Hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference and Donald Tsang, chief executive of
the SAR attended the ceremony.