Chinese Army enters HK

By Oei Eng Goan

HONG KONG, China (JP): Battling heavy rains and low temperatures, hundreds of members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) poured into Hong Kong, newly reunited with China after 156 years of British rule, early yesterday morning.

More than 40 trucks carrying troops in new uniforms and dozens of armored cars, roared through the streets of the territory, now known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). The troops saluted as thousands of well-wishers greeted them warmly.

Three frigates also entered the port as helicopters landed deploying more PLA members. Yesterday's arrivals, bringing the garrison to an estimated 4,000 personnel, brought the last scheduled batch of PLA troops into the territory.

Led by the PLA's political advisor in Hong Kong, Xiong Ziren, the troops were the first Chinese soldiers to enter the territory with weapons.

"The warm welcome accorded to the commanders of the garrison and the salutation given by troops as they entered Hong Kong is a show of good will," said a television commentator, in an apparent reference to the brutality showed by the PLA during the crackdown of the pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in 1989.

Hong Kong reverted to China at Monday midnight in a grand ceremony attended by 4,000 VIP guests, comprising heads of government, ministers, and diplomats from the four corners of the world.

Minutes after the historic handover ceremony, led by the heir to Britain's throne Prince Charles and China's President Jiang Zemin, Chinese Premier Li Peng swore in Tung Chee-hwa, a former shipping magnate, as Hong Kong SAR chief executive to lead the territory and its 6.2 million people.

In a brief inauguration speech Tung said that he and his team would exercise their powers prudently and responsibly to take Hong Kong into the next millennium.

Tung's swearing-in ceremony was followed by a similar pledge of allegiance by 60 members of the Provisional Legislative Council.

The swearing-in ceremony was boycotted by Britain and the United States' senior representatives on the grounds that the Council's members were not democratically elected as were the former legislative council under British rule.

Unlike the other foreign dignitaries, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, left the grand hall of the Hong Kong Convention Center after the handover ceremony as a protest against the handpicked legislature acceptable to China.

Among the new chief executive's policies are the development of a 10-year housing plan, with the aim of increasing the home ownership rate to 70 percent. He also intends to formulate a comprehensive policy on care for the elderly.

Tung further pledged to maintain and develop Hong Kong's legal system and the rule of law along with safeguarding the freedoms and lifestyle of the people of Hong Kong. He added that he would also like to move towards greater democracy in accordance with the Basic Law.

On relations with China, Tung said he would strengthen communication between Hong Kong and the Mainland through mutual trust, mutual economic benefits, cultural interaction, and mutual respect for each other's way of life.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong television stations reported that some 3,000 people had taken to the streets to protest the swearing in of the provisional legislative council.

They counted down the ten seconds to midnight with shouts "long live democracy, fight for democracy".

The demonstration, led by leader of the Democratic Party, Martin Lee, lambasted the establishment of the provisional legislature and called for its swift dismissal.