State media in China on Tuesday said the People’s Liberation Army was on hand if necessary to support police in Hong Kong as it praised the force for its “restraint”, the day after an unarmed pro-democracy protester was shot. The city witnessed one of the most violent days yet in five months of pro-democracy unrest on Monday, with a police officer shooting a masked student protester and a pro-Beijing man set on fire. “When necessary, the People’s Armed Police Force and the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison will back you up in accordance with the Basic Law,” the commentary read, referring to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
