The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Wednesday hosted a reception to mark the 97th founding anniversary of the military, a day ahead of the PLA Day.

The reception, held at the Stonecutters Island Barracks, also served to show gratitude to various sectors in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for their long-term support of the PLA, according to a post on the garrison’s official WeChat account.

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Eric Chan Kwok-ki, acting chief executive of the HKSAR and chief secretary for administration; Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Peng Jingtang, commander of the Chinese PLA Hong Kong Garrison, and other senior officials of the PLA, the HKSAR government and the central government attended the event.

Photos were provided by the HKSAR government.