The State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China announced in Beijing on November 10 that the troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to be sent and stationed in Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) by the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China have been formed.

The tasks of the troops are to safeguard the State sovereignty, unity and territory integrity, and the stability and development of the Macao SAR, the announcement says.

The troops have been set up in accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China which entrusts the PLA with the mission, with the relevant stipulations of the Basic Law of the Macao SAR on the responsibility of the Central People's Government for the defense of the Macao SAR, and the Garrison Law of the Macao SAR, it says.

The troops stationed in the Macao SAR is under the leadership of the CMC of the People's Republic of China and they will be in charge of the defense in the Macao SAR beginning December 20, 1999, it adds.

The troops will not interfere with local affairs in the Macao SAR. When necessary, the Macao SAR government may ask the Central People's Government to let the troops help maintain social order or conduct rescue work in cases of disasters, it says.

The troops shall abide by the laws of the Macao SAR in addition to the national laws. The expenses of the troops will be covered by the Central People's Government, it says.