Representatives from all walks of life in Hong Kong will be invited to watch the parade of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison troops in the HongKong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Army Day (August 1).

"It will be the first time both for Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland that a parade is held in military barracks," a leading official of the Liaison Office of the Central People's government in HKSAR told Xinhua Tuesday (July 20th).

August 1, 2004 is the 77th founding anniversary of the PLA.

Parade is of political and military significance to any countries in the world. The coming parade is aimed at displaying our national sovereignty, strength of national defense and the central government's power and determination to safeguard national and regional security, the official said.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China 55 years ago, the Central Military Commission has held 13 military parades in Beijing's Tiananmen Square and the coming parade will be of greater significance for Hong Kong since it returned to the embrace of the motherland seven years ago, he noted.

All members of the second Legislative Council are among those invited to watch the parade, the official added.

He hoped that the parade could display the PLA's modernization level and help enhance the close relationship between the army and the Hong Kong people.

The PLA has forged extensive ties with people of all walks of life in Hong Kong. "We believe that on the basis of supporting "One Country and Two Systems" and the Basic Law, Hong Kong people could realize extensive unity and join efforts in maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, he said.

About 15,000 tickets will be distributed for watching the parade.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, the PLA Garrison Troops in HKSAR has opened its military barracks eight times for citizens to visit and held various kinds of celebration activities on Army Day.

Editor: Wing