HONG KONG  

A semi-official Chinese think tank has called for Hong Kong residents to be allowed to serve in China’s powerful armed forces, local media reported Wednesday.

Col. Wang Xinjian, of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said allowing Hongkongers to join the People’s Liberation Army would cement ties to the mainland.

His remarks – reported in the South China Morning Post, citing Beijing’s official Global Times – follow a decision in January to establish an army cadet force in Hong Kong that would make youngsters "aware of their responsibilities and obligations as Chinese citizens."

Wang said Hong Kong universities and secondary schools could offer military training and classes on national defense to increase students' patriotism. Such training would "help them change from regional residents to national citizens," he said.

The Post said Wang was apparently responding to calls from pro-Beijing voices in the territory to allow young people to voluntarily join the 2.3 million-strong People’s Liberation Army.

According to China's military service law, men are obliged to perform military service when required but the law is not applied in Hong Kong.

Calling for Hongkongers to be admitted to the Chinese civil service, he said exclusion would breed alienation and parochialism, according to the Post.

The think tank was created in 2013 and usually represents the communist leadership’s view on the former British colony.