(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-26 10:26

HONG KONG - The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison troops in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) conducted on Sunday its 10th troop rotation since it assumed Hong Kong's defense responsibility on July 1, 1997.

Six military helicopters land at the Skek Kong Barracks in Hong Kong, November 25, 2007. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison troops in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) conducted on Sunday its 10th troop rotation since it assumed Hong Kong's defense responsibility on July 1, 1997. [Xinhua]

The annual rotation started at 00:00 a.m. Sunday when a number of military vehicles of the ground troops rolled across the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint into Hong Kong under the escort of the Hong Kong police.

At 03:00 a.m., the same number of units of the ground forces crossed the same checkpoint into Shenzhen.

Six military helicopters landed at the Skek Kong Barracks in Hong Kong in the morning, and later, six other helicopters took off and left for their base in the mainland.

The last part of the rotation was carried out at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base, involving the rotation of a missile frigate and a landing vessel.

The annual rotation was conducted in accordance with the HKSAR Garrison Law of the People's Republic of China.

The size of the forces remained unchanged in both personnel and weaponry after the rotation, said Colonel Cheng Dongfang, spokesman for the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong.