The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison troops in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) have completed all tasks focusing on defense over the past ten years and gained much experience in the new environment, said Wang Jitang, commander of PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong.

"All the tasks are fulfilled under the guidance of the 'One country, Two systems' principle and by strictly adhering to the Basic Law and the HKSAR Garrison Law," said Wang at a press conference here on the 10th anniversary of the stationing of PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong.

Since PLA garrison troops began to be stationed in Hong Kong in 1997, the troops had been striving to conduct trainings of defense of all kinds, including land, air and sea trainings, he said.

Meanwhile, the troops had set up a mechanism of dealing with emergencies and actively conducted search and rescue exercises with relative departments of the HKSAR government, constantly improving the troops' comprehensive capability of carrying out its task of defense.

"Our troops and the relative departments of the HKSAR government have set up mechanism of coordination," he said.

In the next ten years, the troops will continue to enhance their training and carry out their duty of defense to safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of HKSAR, said Zhang Rucheng, political commissar of the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong.

He pledged that the troops will actively support the HKSAR government in its governing in accordance with laws and constantly strengthen exchanges and communication with the Hong Kong society.

Zhang thanked the HKSAR government, Hong Kong citizens and people of all circles for their care and support for the troops over the past ten years, saying that their care and support had helped the troops complete their missions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2007)