News In Brief

China's leader announces Hong Kong troop plans

A shudder went through the world's third largest trading center Friday when senior Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping proclaimed that China will station soldiers in Hong Kong after it regains sovereignty over the British colony in 1997.

It was the first time Mr. Deng has publicly stated China's military intentions for Hong Kong. Official accounts of Deng's remarks did not specify how many troops China will send, but Hong Kong reporters quoted him as saying 3, 000 to 5,000.

Deng's words cast doubt on China's pledge that Hong Kong's economic and social systems will remain basically unchanged under Communist rule.