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Chinese army vehicles at Huanggang port during annual rotation in Hong Kong, August 29, 2019. REUTERS

On the eve of a new weekend of pro-democracy protests banned by the government, Chinese media showed images of the annual rotation of the People's Army troops in Hong Kong barracks. New riot drills were held in Shenzhen on Thursday, August 29th.

With our special correspondent in Shenzhen, Stéphane Lagarde

Armored vehicles and a ship crossing the bay of Hong Kong on Thursday, August 29 at dawn or slogans and sounds of boots on music, these movements of troops are part of the annual rotation of the Army's workforce popular liberation . They are therefore nothing exceptional in themselves.

What is new here is that they are thus put forward. Surprised by the Central Television of China even before the maneuver is completed. Another difference, this year no hint of a number of men and equipment that would be equivalent to the previous year. An omission in the officers' speech that helps maintain the vagueness, or even to let some people fear a reinforcement. Knowing that in total, the Chinese forces have between 6,000 and 10,000 men in the garrisons of Hong Kong.

Riot exercise

Other images broadcast on the eve of the weekend of mobilizations, those of a new riot exercise in a stadium in Shenzhen at the gates of the special administrative region. This time, they have been posted on Chinese social networks and reported in particular by the nationalist daily Huanqiu Shibao (the Global Times in its English version).

Here again, cry, music, whistles ... The armed police of the people plays here all the roles: the demonstrators helmeted and masked on one side and the other, the police forces sheltered behind their shield, and supported by water cannons .

Anniversary of the "Umbrella Movement"

In Hong Kong, police said the march planned for Saturday August 31 was banned. Like any gathering announced on this anniversary date. Five years ago, Beijing's refusal to launch promised political reforms sparked the " umbrella movement ". It was then the biggest mobilization for democracy in the former British colony, up to this year's movement against the extradition law to China.