Agreement on PLA advance personnel
The two sides of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group have reached an agreement on the arrival of 40 advance personnel of the future Garrison in Hong Kong from April 21, a Government spokesman announced today (Tuesday).
"The group will be led by a Deputy Commander of the future Chinese Garrison who is an officer of the rank of Major General," the spokesman said.
"A liaison group of 28 personnel, led by the Deputy Commander, will be co- located with the British Forces at the Prince of Wales Barracks. The other 12 will be co-located with the British Garrison at Stonecutters Island Barracks," he said.
The duties of advance personnel are to make practical preparations for the People's Liberation Army to take over the responsibility for the defence of Hong Kong, including familiarisation with the military sites, liaison with the British Forces and the Hong Kong Government, and co-ordination of communications support.
"They will not be armed and will not enjoy any special legal status or JLG privileges and immunities," the spokesman said.
"They have to strictly abide by all Hong Kong laws," he added.
In accordance with normal military practice, advance personnel may wear uniforms within barracks but will be in civilian clothing when they are outside the military sites off duty. There will be no display of PRC or PLA flags.
"This agreement provides a firm basis for the smooth transfer of defence responsibilities. Advance personnel will not have any defence or internal security role and their work will not affect the responsibility of the United Kingdom for the administration of Hong Kong up to June 30, 1997," the spokesman said.
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