In Beijing backs Tung, prepares for worst, Ching Cheong writes on China's "ad hoc leading group on Hong Kong", which includes Lieutenant-General Xiong Guangkai, deputy head of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army:

Lt-Gen Xiong is to work on the worst case scenario - when the PLA's garrison force in Hong Kong has to be called in. The latter three represent the hard approach.


As a last resort, the group is also looking at the possibility of invoking Articles 14 and 18 of the Basic Law, the SAR's mini-Constitution, to allow Beijing's intervention.


Article 14 says: 'The Government of the Hong Kong SAR may, when necessary, ask the Central People's Government for assistance from the garrison in the maintenance of public order.'


Article 18 states that when the Chinese Parliament decides the SAR is in a state of emergency endangering national unity or security and beyond the SAR government's control, central government can apply relevant national laws in Hong Kong.


The source explained: 'Although the current situation does not warrant such a drastic measure, the central government is not taking the demonstration lightly.'

It doesn't warrant such a drastic measure, eh? That's nice. And Lt.-Gen. Xiong Guangkai isn't such a bad guy. OK, he reportedly made an implied Chinese threat to "nuke" Los Angeles if Washington were to intervene in the Taiwan Strait missile crisis. And he ran domestic and foreign rackets, including liquor smuggling, and he's a blowhard who boasted about his chances to be elected to the full Central Committee, and enjoys a well-documented lack of respect in the Chinese military and an

infamous reputation in the United States as a latter-day cross between General Curtis LeMay, Lavrenty Beria, and Fu Manchu

Some claim that his

secret police identified and targeted student leaders in the massacre at Tiananmen Square

but consider the source. Anyway, even if it's true, he was only following orders, right?