Hu reviews PLA garrison in HK

Chinese President Hu Jintao inspects the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at Shek Kong barracks on June 29, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

HONG KONG - Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday afternoon inspected the Chinese People's Liberation Army ( PLA) Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ( HKSAR) at Shek Kong barracks.

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrived Friday morning to attend celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and the swearing-in ceremony of the fourth-term government of the HKSAR.

In the company of Zhang Shibo, commander of the PLA Garrison in the HKSAR, Hu consecutively inspected troops in 15 formations of more than 3,000 soldiers, including guard of honor, army, navy, air force, women soldiers, infantry, armored force and helicopters.

About 4,000 spectators, including Hong Kong youths attending the garrison's military summer camp and college students who received military training in recent years, were present on the occasion.

Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are seen at the Shek Kong barracks in Hong Kong, South China, June 29, 2012. Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviews the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, at the Shek Kong barracks on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

The PLA Hong Kong garrison is responsible for defense in Hong Kong since its return to the motherland in 1997.

The garrison has made major contribution to securing Hong Kong's prosperity and stability over the past 15 years, China's defense ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

"The garrison has been focusing on combat readiness training, marine and air patrol missions, joint military drills, while successfully carrying out joint rescue and anti-terrorism training programs," said Geng.