The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) holds a drill in waters near Hong Kong, June 26, 2019. Members of the army, navy and air force of the PLA garrison in Hong Kong took part in the joint naval and air patrol exercise that aimed to review and raise the units' combat abilities in emergency dispatches, ad hoc deployment and joint operations. Photo: 81.cn

Chinese People's Armed Police Force (PAP) Major General Peng Jingtang has been named the new commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to help safeguard the stability and prosperity of the city, as he is the first Garrison commander hailing from the Armed Police Force - and the first to have experience in fighting terrorism in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam met with Peng on Monday and welcomed him to the special administrative region. 

Lam said she believes the PLA Hong Kong Garrison and the Hong Kong regional government could continue to help each other in safeguarding the stability, prosperity and development of Hong Kong.

Peng, who served as chief of staff of PAP in Xinjiang, is the first from the Armed Police Force to serve as commander of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, which, according to experts, shows that his appointment is more targeted at safeguarding social stability and dealing with national security-related issues in Hong Kong. Peng is the eighth commander of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, and the seven previous commanders were all transferred from PLA commands.

Peng said he would profoundly implement the "one country, two systems," firmly safeguard the country's sovereignty and development, as well as maintain the city's long-term stability and prosperity.

Peng's predecessor Major General Chen Daoxiang was appointed as commander of Hong Kong Garrison in April 2019. Before that, he was a deputy chief of staff of the PLA Southern Theater Command.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military commentator based in Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Monday that the main target of the PAP is to deal with terrorism and emergencies, which is not only a major mission of the Hong Kong Garrison, but a problem of primary importance facing the current Hong Kong government.

Under the national security law for Hong Kong and with the electoral reform, Hong Kong society has been stable over the past year, in sharp contrast with the social turmoil in 2019. Local security authorities have vowed to continue fighting domestic terrorism, especially the "lone wolf" style of attacks, as there have been some secessionists who have been causing trouble in Hong Kong by colluding with foreign forces.

Xinjiang used to be one of the major places in China haunted by terrorism and social turmoil. But after the efforts of local authorities, there has not been any terrorist attack for five years, and local residents now enjoy unprecedented security and stability. 

During his service in Xinjiang, Peng attended the China-Kyrgyzstan "Cooperation-2019" joint counter-terrorism exercise, during which the PAP's new counter-terror special operations unit Mountain Eagle Commando was revealed to the public for the first time.