The People’s Liberation Army urged Hongkongers to “treasure their home” as the city’s garrison issued a message of support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in a Lunar New Year message.

In Tuesday’s message the mainland’s military presence in the city also paid tribute to the police force for its efforts in upholding the rule of law and curbing the violent unrest that has taken hold since June.

Chen Daoxiang, commander of the PLA’s Hong Kong garrison, and Cai Yongzhong, the garrison’s political commissar, praised Lam for having “actively responded to concerns of the society”, and said that the police had “strictly enforced the law” to protect people’s “peaceful living”.

They pledged the garrison would “firmly support” Lam, the police and the “patriotic force” in the city.
The message continued: “In the new year, the garrison will continue to fulfil its defence duties in strict accordance with the Basic Law and garrison law.

“The garrison will firmly support the chief executive in leading the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government in accordance with the law, firmly support Hong Kong police to strictly enforce the law and firmly support the patriotic and love-Hong Kong forces.

“The garrison will resolutely safeguard the national sovereignty and security, development interests and Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.”

In the message, they also said the garrison would pay tribute to “every one of Hong Kong’s compatriots who have made great efforts in safeguarding the rule of law in Hong Kong, and the bottom line of ‘one country, two systems’ and striving to contribute to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability”.

The officers concluded the message with a wish that Hong Kong people would treasure more their home, join hands to build it and make the “Pearl of the Orient” shine brighter.