People ' s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison The People ' s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is a garrison of the Chinese People ' s Liberation Army ( PLA ) , responsible for defence duties in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since the sovereignty of Hong Kong was returned to the PRC in 1997 . Prior to the handover , Hong Kong was under British rule , and the defence of Hong Kong was the responsibility of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong . As a non - sovereign territory , Hong Kong has never had a military force of its own . The garrison is headquartered in Chinese People ' s Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building in Central , Hong Kong . The troop strength of the garrison is about 6 , 000 personnel . Role in Hong Kong . The Central People ' s Government ( CPG ) of the People ' s Republic of China ( PRC ) assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on 1 July 1997 and stationed a garrison of the People ' s Liberation Army ( PLA ) in Hong Kong to manage its defence affairs . Although the garrison has no military significance , the stationing of the PLA troops in the region is a significant symbol of the PRC government ' s actual resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong . The Basic Law provides that the CPG shall be responsible for the defence of Hong Kong and shall bear the expenditure for the garrison , whereas the colonial Hong Kong Government before 1997 had to pay for the military . The Garrison Law , subsequently enacted by the National People ' s Congress , contains specific provisions on the duties and rules of discipline of the garrison personnel , jurisdiction and other questions , to facilitate the Hong Kong Garrison in fulfilling its defence functions along legal lines . Military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere in the local affairs and the Hong Kong government shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order . The Garrison formally stationed in Hong Kong assumed defence responsibility for Hong Kong starting midnight on 1 July 1997 . The Hong Kong Garrison includes elements of the People ' s Liberation Army Ground Force , PLA Navy , and PLA Air Force ; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under the administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region . While performing its defence duties , the Hong Kong Garrison must abide by both national and Hong Kong laws , as well as the current rules and regulations of the PLA . After its entry into Hong Kong , the Hong Kong Garrison abide by the Basic Law and the Garrison Law , actively organising military training . According to the Garrison Law , the Garrison established working contacts with the Hong Kong Government , and opened the barracks on Stonecutters Island and Stanley to the public to promote Hong Kong people ' s understanding of and trust in the garrison troops . Insignia . Personnel in the Hong Kong Garrison wore uniforms different from their mainland counterparts until a new set of uniforms were introduced in 2007 . Motor vehicles in the military are right - hand drive , like civilian vehicles in Hong Kong , and carry number plates that start with ZG , standing for zhugang ( 駐港 ) , Chinese for " stationed in Hong Kong . " Commander ' s Residence . Commander ' s Residence is located at 11 Barker Road . Formerly known as Headquarters House , it was home to the Commander - in - Chief of British Forces from 1978 to 1997 and replaced the old Headquarter House or Flagstaff House c . 1840s . A private road from Barker Road is used to access the home but is off limits to those without security clearance . The residence is near two other official residences , Chief Secretary for Administration at 15 Barker Road and Secretary for Justice at 19 Severn Road . Command . The Hong Kong Garrison reports to both the Guangzhou Military Region and Central Military Commission in Beijing , and informs Hong Kong Government of any actions within or around Hong Kong . Army . Bases . Bases within Hong Kong are former British facilities namely from the British Army : Navy . The naval presence in Hong Kong is a limited sub - station with a small flotilla of ships rotating from bases in the mainland : Air Force . Bases . PLA Hong Kong Garrison has three air bases with only one within Hong Kong :