of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to manage its defence affairs. Although the garrison has little practical military value, the stationing of the PLA troops in Hong Kong is a significant symbol of the PRC government's assumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. According to Hong Kong's Basic Law, military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere with local civil affairs; the Hong Kong Government shall remain responsible for the maintenance of public order. The Hong Kong Garrison, composed of ground, naval, and air forces, is under the command of the Chinese Central Military Commission. The garrison subsequently opened its barracks on Stonecutters Island and Stanley to the public to promote understanding and trust between the troops and residents. References Further reading Linda Butenhoff: Social movements and political reform in Hong Kong, Westport, Conn. [u.a.] : Praeger 1999, External links Hong Kong Museum of History website A speech script on history of Hong Kong Bibliography of Hong Kong Archaeology on the University of Hong Kong website "Story of the Stanford family and the effect of the fall of Hong Kong in 1941." Basic Law Drafting History Online -University of Hong Kong Libraries, Digital Initiatives Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online - University of Hong Kong Libraries, Digital Initiatives Sidney C. H. Cheung, Martyrs, Mystery and Memory Behind the Colonial Shift - Anti-British resistance movement in 1899 Military of Hong Kong