A mass meeting was held here on Sunday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops' stationing in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

An order of commendation in honor of the PLA troops in the HKSAR signed by Hu Jintao, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was read at the meeting.

On July 1, 1997, the day of Hong Kong's historic return to the motherland, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison moved into the HKSAR on the orders of the CMC.

Over the past 10 years, the PLA Garrison has firmly implemented decisions and orders of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council and the CMC, and has always observed the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the law governing the PLA garrison in the HKSAR, the order of commendation said.

The PLA Garrison, which has respected the HKSAR Government and Hong Kong people, has made an outstanding contribution to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, it said.

Ge Zhenfeng, deputy chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, said in his address that the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong firmly put into practice the principle of "one country, two systems", and contributed substantially to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

In the past 10 years, the troops won wide support from HKSAR government and Hong Kong people, who helped the garrison troops a lot to fulfill its responsibility for Hong Kong's defense affairs, Ge added.

On behalf of the PLA's general headquarters, Ge expressed heartfelt thanks to the HKSAR government, all social sectors and Hong Kong people.

Chief Executive of HKSAR Donald Tsang thanked the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong for its contribution to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability during the past 10 years.

He said the PLA garrison troops firmly implemented the principle of "one country, two systems" in the last 10 years and created a grand image by their actions.

"Your efforts have won trust and admiration from Hong Kong people," Tsang said.

Wang Jitang, commander of PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong, said that on July 1, 1997, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison began to carry its defense responsibility in Hong Kong, which opened a new page in the PLA history. Over the past 10 years, PLA garrison troops successfully accomplished all important tasks, carried the mission of safeguarding China's sovereignty over Hong Kong, while presented itself as a mighty and civilized force.