No reason for Beijing to send troops to Hong Kong to deal with protests, says former justice secretary Elsie Leung
- Time has not yet arrived to warrant troops to maintain order in city, Leung says, but even if they were deployed, it wouldn’t damage one country, two systems
- Current Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng says political factors will not be taken into account when deciding whether to press charges
Hong Kong has not yet warranted any call for Beijing to send troops to the city for security purposes amid ongoing protests against the now-abandoned extradition bill, top Beijing adviser and the city’s former justice secretary Elsie Leung Oi-sie said on Sunday.
Leung said on a radio programme that even if the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong were deployed according to the Basic Law – Hong Kong’s mini-constitution – she did not think the move would damage the governing principle of “one country, two systems”.
Leung’s remark came in light of recent reports that large numbers of armed police had been gathering at Shenzhen Bay, near the Hong Kong border. The reports sparked speculation and concern Beijing might deploy paramilitary troops to the city to crack down on protests that have been continuing for more than two months.
“Article 18 [comes into effect when the situation in Hong Kong] ‘endangers national unity or security’, which would be when people are not only promoting Hong Kong independence, but are taking up arms in an attempt to separate the city from China,” Leung said.
“That would be a state of war. But what has been happening in Hong Kong so far is more an issue of public order than of national security.”
Article 18 of the Basic Law provides that in the event of the standing committee of the National People's Congress declaring a state of war or a state of emergency in Hong Kong, the central government may issue an order applying relevant national laws in Hong Kong.
