PLA seeks penalties for HK barracks break-in

HONG KONG -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison in Hong Kong on Thursday said it will take resolute and decisive measures to deal with any unauthorized break-in to its barracks in the Special Administrative Region.

A spokesman with the Garrison said in an interview with Xinhua that they had noticed Hong Kong police had arrested several locals who forced their way into the garrison's barracks in Central and believed the police would handle them in accordance with the law.

The garrison deems unauthorized break-in as serious violation of the Public Order Ordinance of Hong Kong and the Garrison Law and an overt provocation to the military, and those involved should be punished according to law, the spokesman said.

Several local residents forced their way into the PLA Garrison headquarters at Hong Kong Central last Thursday (December 26, 2013) afternoon, defying the warning of the guard on duty. The Hong Kong police has arrested four suspects, two of whom have been released on bail later.

The garrison reiterates that it will take resolute and decisive measures to deal with such break-in and the violators should bear all the consequences, the spokesman said.

China's central government has also shown grave concern over the break-in. A spokesman with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday that all PLA garrison barracks in Hong Kong are protected by law. Those who disregarded the law and forced into the barracks should be punished.