Paramilitary cop to head PLA garrison

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor hopes to join hands with the People's Liberation Army in safeguarding national sovereignty and stability after Beijing appointed Peng Jintang as the new commander of the PLA garrison in Hong Kong.

Peng, a former major general at Xinjiang, is the first paramilitary to lead the PLA's Hong Kong division, which has for years been headed by PLA-groomed generals. He replaces major general Chen Daoxiang, who took up the role in April 2019.

Lam, accompanied by the director of the Chief Executive's Office Eric Chan Kwok-ki, welcomed Peng at Government House yesterday.

She said the garrison, which symbolizes China's sovereignty, has been performing its duties in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Garrisoning of the HKSAR and other relevant laws.

"It is a solid backing to ensure the SAR's long-term prosperity and stability," she said.

Lam believes that under Peng's leadership, the garrison will continue to uphold its tradition and contribute to the SAR by joining hands with the government in safeguarding national sovereignty, safety and development interests, as well as maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

Lam said the garrison, which has been dedicated in interacting with the Hong Kong community by holding events such as open days at the barracks and summer camps for teenagers, is respected and loved by the general public.

In a release posted on the website of the Ministry of National Defense, the appointment order was signed by President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Peng said in the release that he is ready to work with all the members of the garrison to profoundly implement one country, two systems, perform defense duties in accordance with the law, resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, and firmly safeguard Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

Peng was previously deputy chief of staff of China's paramilitary police force, the People's Armed Police, in Xinjiang.

The region is where the US government has accused China of repressive policies against Uygur Muslims that amount to genocide, which Beijing strongly denies.

According to open data, Peng was heading a brigade at Jinan military region.

Global Times introduced his squad in Xinjiang and consumed ammunition in 2018 equaling what other squads consumed in total in the past three years, so Xi named his squad "the sharp blade against terrorism."