The deputy director of Hong Kong's Basic Law Committee has said that according to article 11 of this law, the Hong Kong Garrison should only have to inform the Hong Kong government in advance if it was going to conduct military activities, such as training or maneuvers, which were in line the region's public interests. Because the clean-up was neither of these, she said the soldiers were well within their right to leave their barracks for voluntary work. 

Meanwhile, she said the move also had nothing to do with Article 14 of Hong Kong's Basic Law, which states that the Hong Kong government may, when necessary, ask the Central People's Government for assistance from the Hong Kong Garrison for the maintenance of public order and in disaster relief. She points out that according to Article 16 of the Hong Kong Garrison Law, members of the Hong Kong Garrison are obliged to protect both the property of the regional government and the property of residents. She said the PLA soldiers' work on Saturday was essentially helping to protect Hong Kong's public property.