The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison Forces in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held a reception Tuesday evening to celebrate the PLA's 79th founding anniversary.

More than 200 guests from all circles, including principal officials of the HKSAR government and leaders of the representative offices of the central government organs in Hong Kong, attended the reception.

Present at the reception were Tung Chee Hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Wong Yan Lung, acting chief executive of HKSAR and secretary of justice, Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR, Lu Xinhua, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in HKSAR, and Zhang Rucheng, political commissar of the PLA Garrison.

Speaking at the reception, Commander of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison Wang Jitang thanked the HKSAR government and Hong Kong people for their supports to the PLA Garrison.

He said the PLA Garrison will persistently carry out strict management of the military affairs in accordance with the Basic Law and the Garrison Law, follow the guideline of "One Country, Two Systems" and support and cooperate with the HKSAR government headed by Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

"I can assure you, we will be the safeguard for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity," Wang told the guests.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Wang said, the HKSAR government has successfully led Hong Kong people to unite together and carve out a way through hard times, maintaining Hong Kong's status as one of the financial, trade and shipping centers in the world.

Wang expressed belief that, with the full support of the central government and people on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong will definitely enjoy an even more harmonious, orderly and prosperous future with the legal and efficient governance of the HKSAR government and social solidarity.

During the past more than nine years since Hong Kong's return, the PLA Garrison has taken part in activities such as tree- planting, blood donation, artistic performance, joint exercise with departments of the HKSAR government, barracks Open Day, military parade and summer camp to establish friendly relations with the society.

Source: Xinhua