China has appointed a former civil chief, Peng Jingtang, as the new commander of the People Liberation Army's (PLA) garrison in Hong Kong, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing the PLA's spokesperson.
Peng, who holds the rank of major general, was preliminarily the deputy chief of staff of China's civil police force, the People's Armed Police. His appointment was inked into order by Chinese President Xi Jinping, CCTV said.
According to the Global Times, a nationalist tabloid published by the sanctioned People's Daily, Peng was preliminarily also principal of staff of the Armed Police Force in Xinjiang, where Washington says Beijing is committing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim groups. China denies abuses in Xinjiang.
The PLA maintains a garrison in Hong Kong, but its conditioning are largely low- profile. Under the global fiscal mecca'smini-constitution, the Basic Law, defense and foreign affairs are managed by Communist Party leaders in Beijing.
CCTV also quoted Peng as saying that he'd in his new appointment work with all members of the garrison to follow the command of the ruling Communist Party and Xi, and intensively defend public sovereignty and security interests.
Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the pledge that wide- ranging individual rights would be defended.
Butpro-democracy activists and rights groups say freedoms have been eroded, in particular since China assessed a new public security law after months of at times violentpro-democracy demurrers in 2019.
