Hong Kong: Chinese soldiers seen cleaning the streets after weeks of violent protest

The Mainland Chinese soldiers were seen on the streets of Hong Kong for the first time after the commencement of pro-democracy protests. The soldiers of the People's Liberation Army made a rare appearance while clearing protesters' roadblocks. However, political leaders questioned the intent behind the deployment of the Chinese troops. 

Chinese soldiers volunteered to clear streets of Hong Kong

The Chinese soldiers in their olive-green T-shirts and black shorts were seen cleaning the streets of Hong Kong, after the most violent week of the five-month-long pro-democracy protest. The soldiers were deployed to clear the bricks, metal bars and other trash that was left by the protesters after the violent protest. The lawmakers supporting the protest voiced their concerns calling it a violation of the constitution of Hong Kong which outlaws the interference of Chinese soldiers of mainland China unless the Hong Kong Government seeks their assistance. 

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PLA can take autonomous decisions 

After year-long unrest, it was for the first time PLA local garrison was involved in the community work. The PLA soldiers assured that their act of service has nothing to do with the Hong Kong Government. One of the said, “We initiated this! Stopping the violence and ending chaos is our responsibility” quoting President Xi Jinping. Later, the firefighters and police officers also joined the services. John Lee Ka-Chiu, who is the Hong Kong Secretary for Security had informed that PLA can take autonomous decisions to deploy their soldiers of volunteer services outside the military sites. The local government, however, was unaware of the acts. 

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PLA help during disaster relief 

Last year, there were more than 400 soldiers that were deployed in various country parks in Hong Kong to clear the mass destruction caused by Typhoon Mangkhut. China in its previous statement said that according to Article 14 of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution PLA must not interfere in the local affairs but the soldiers can be asked for help during disaster relief on the call of the local government. However, no such request was made by the Hong Kong Government. 

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