Shenzhen residents say China has "responsibility" to stabilise Hong Kong amid paramilitary buildup on border

Record ID: 1427678

  • Title: Shenzhen residents say China has "responsibility" to stabilise Hong Kong amid paramilitary buildup on border
  • Date: 19th August 2019
  • Summary: SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA (AUGUST 19, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHINESE PARAMILITARY VEHICLES PARKED NEXT TO SHENZHEN BAY SPORTS CENTRE STADIUM SHENZHEN BAY SPORTS CENTRE STADIUM / PARAMILITARY VEHICLES PARKED / SHENZHEN SKYLINE PARAMILITARY VEHICLES PARKED PEOPLE WALKING BY PARKING LOT WHERE PARAMILITARY VEHICLES ARE PARKED VARIOUS OF TWO PARAMILITARY TROOPS WALKING NEXT TO PARKED PARAMILITARY VEHICLES VARIOUS OF POLICE STATION NEXT TO ELEVATED ROAD POLICE OFFICER SITTING IN BOOTH PEDESTRIANS WALKING ON OVERPASS / POLICE OFFICER SITTING IN BOOTH (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SHENZHEN RESIDENT AND CASHMERE VENDOR, LIU JING, SAYING: "If the situation (in Hong Kong) gets even worse, then nobody knows what will happen. Of course, China has the responsibility, or the right, to do what they believe is right to guarantee the stability of Hong Kong." PEDESTRIANS WALKING / TRAFFIC PASSING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SHENZHEN RESIDENT AND CASHMERE VENDOR, 34 YEARS OLD, LIU JING, "I don't agree that the protests have included any terrorist-like actions. Because I think they are just a group of people with demands who are taking part in some protests. During the protests there have been some clashes. That's all it is." PEDESTRIANS WALKING ON PEDESTRIAN WALK (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 18 YEAR-OLD SHENZHEN RESIDENT AND RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, CAO MINGJIE, SAYING: "I think it's completely normal. Completely normal. Because sometimes China is a kind of country that really emphasises national stability and prosperity. We have a very strong safety and security force. As (Hong Kong) remains within our jurisdiction, and a situation arises, then it's within necessary means that we must defend the safety of the Hong Kong's people's livelihood." TRAFFIC PASSING ON ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 24 YEAR-OLD SHENZHEN RESIDENT AND EMPLOYEE AT INTERNET COMPANY, GE GE, SAYING: "I don't think this will happen because our government will maintain the principle of one country two systems. Because the Hong Kong government believes that they are more suited to managing their own space over there, and only when (Hong Kong) requests it, they will come to our mainland government for help. So for the moment, I don't think that our paramilitary will use military force to solve problems over there." SHENZHEN BAY SPORTS CENTRE PARAMILITARY VEHICLES PARKED NEXT TO STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 2nd September 2019 07:40
  • Keywords: Armoured cars Beijing PLA Hong Kong protests Shenzhen Paramilitary People’s armed police voxpops stadium
  • Location: SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA
  • City: SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ASVTI6F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents in Shenzhen said on Monday (August 19) they believe China has the "responsibility" to intervene in neighbouring Hong Kong amid an ongoing buildup of paramilitary forces in the border city.
    Although it was business as usual for Shenzhen residents on Monday morning, troops and armoured vehicles from the People's Armed Police were still stationed at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre. They have been taking part in what appears to be anti-riot drills since last week, when state media first reported an increase in armoured paramilitary vehicles in the city.
    "If the situation (in Hong Kong) gets even worse, then nobody knows what will happen," said Shenzhen resident Liu Jing. "Of course, China has the responsibility, or the right, to do what they believe is right to guarantee the stability of Hong Kong," Liu added.
    The paramilitary exercises have accentuated a concern that China is considering direct intervention in Hong Kong, where the city has been stifled by months of protests demanding the withdrawal of a controversial law that would extradite suspects to the mainland. In recent days, Chinese state media has been full of thinly veiled threats that China would not sit by and watch if the "violence" and "near-terrorism" continued.
    (Production: Martin Pollard, Joseph Campbell)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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