PLA presence will only worry agitators

The Chinese People's Liberation Army completed the 22nd rotation of its garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday. The routine exercise took place in the small hours of the morning, the same way it has every summer for the past 22 years. Notwithstanding its routine nature, the move touched the nerve of some people in Hong Kong, who have jumped to the conclusion that it is associated with the current dissension in the city.

With some radical opponents of the government using the pretext of the now-dead extradition amendment bill to stir up social unrest in the SAR, there have been a series of violent incidents and riots that have appalled a society known for its law and order.

But although the Basic Law allows the SAR government to call on the assistance of the PLA garrison in Hong Kong to maintain public order, so far it has not felt the need to do so, having confidence in the ability of the Hong Kong police to manage the situation.