The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison troops in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday conducted its 12th troop rotation since it assumed Hong Kong's defense responsibility on July 1, 1997.

The size of the forces remained unchanged in both personnel and weaponry after the annual rotation, the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong said.

The rotation began as planned early Wednesday when a number of military vehicles of the ground troops rolled across the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint shortly after midnight into Hong Kong under the escort of the Hong Kong police.

Six military helicopters landed around 10:00 a.m. at the Shek Kong Barracks in Hong Kong. Six other helicopters took off shortly afterwards and left for their base in the Chinese mainland.

The last part of the rotation was carried out about an hour later at the Stonecutters Island Naval Base, involving the rotation of a missile frigate and a landing vessel.

The annual rotation was carried out in accordance with the HKSAR Garrison Law of the People's Republic of China.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2009)