A passenger reacts after protesters blocked the train doors stopping the trains leaving at a subway platform in Hong Kong Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Subway train service was disrupted during morning rush hour after dozens of protesters staged what they called a disobedience movement to protest over a Sunday mob attack at a subway station. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The Associated Press
BEIJING (AP) - China's central government is pointing to an article in Hong Kong law that allows the army to step in during public security crises.
Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian was answering a question at a briefing Wednesday about how the Defense Ministry will respond to rising "independence forces" in Hong Kong.
Wu said the "behavior of some radical demonstrators ... is absolutely intolerable" and pointed to Article 14 of Hong Kong's Garrison Law without elaborating.
The article stipulates that the Hong Kong government may ask for assistance from Chinese military troops stationed in the city "in the maintenance of public order."
Hong Kong residents have taken to the streets in droves to protest an extradition bill and call for democratic reforms. Some protesters have directed their ire at the mainland government.
China's Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian leaves as journalists are asking question on Hong Kong's recent protests after a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Wednesday, July 24, 2019. China says it will not "renounce the use of force" in efforts to reunify Taiwan with the mainland and vows to take all necessary military measures to defeat "separatists." (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The Associated Press
A protester, center, is surrounded by police officers while sitting on the floor saying he is injured at a subway platform in Hong Kong Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Subway train service was disrupted during morning rush hour after dozens of protesters staged what they called a disobedience movement to protest over a Sunday mob attack at a subway station. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The Associated Press
Two protesters are surrounded by police officers while sitting on the floor saying he is injured at a subway platform in Hong Kong Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Subway train service was disrupted during morning rush hour after dozens of protesters staged what they called a disobedience movement to protest over a Sunday mob attack at a subway station. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The Associated Press
Two protesters are surrounded by police officers while sitting on the floor saying he is injured at a subway platform in Hong Kong Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Subway train service was disrupted during morning rush hour after dozens of protesters staged what they called a disobedience movement to protest over a Sunday mob attack at a subway station. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The Associated Press
A protester in black shirt gestures against some passengers as he blocked the train doors stopping the trains leaving at a subway platform in Hong Kong Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Subway train service was disrupted during morning rush hour after dozens of protesters staged what they called a disobedience movement to protest over a Sunday mob attack at a subway station. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
The Associated Press