After the rotation of troops last year, the military said the number of troops and equipment was the same as the previous year.
"Hong Kong still serves a financial hub for China and the world; commitment of "One Country - Two Systems" is also a political framework to unify Taiwan but use of force implies the failure of that commitment, and [possible] global intervention, especially from the USA and the other G7 members", said Shih, who is also secretary-general of the Taiwan-based Association of Central Asian Studies.
However, demands of demonstrators have grown and the protests themselves have become more violent, prompting officials in Beijing to issue stark warnings of a possible crackdown.
In a letter to the rally organizers, the Civil Human Rights Front, police said that they feared some participants would commit "violent and destructive acts".
More than a dozen industries have threatened to call a strike for next Monday and Tuesday to push the Hong Kong government to reply to the five demands of protesters by Saturday, the end of the month.
"The statement translated by CNBC continued, "[The Garrison] will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and develop interests, effectively perform duties to defend Hong Kong, and make important new contributions to safeguarding Hong Kong's prosperity and stability".
In the images broadcast by state media, troops can be seen crossing the border into Hong Kong from the mainland in trucks and armoured personnel carriers, as well as disembarking from a Chinese navy vessel.
"There will be fatal political and economic consequences that not all among the ruling elites in Hong Kong and Beijing are prepared to face", he said. That has never happened, and Hong Kong authorities have said they can handle the situation themselves.
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In 2016, she worked as a " greeter girl " for visitors to the Trump Tower during the transition period after the election. Westerhout had served as the president's personal assistant from the first day of his administration.
On August 19 during a large public sit-in at the Hong Kong International Airport a journalist from Chinese state-backed tabloid Global Times and a Chinese resident were held and beaten up by protesters who suspected they were Chinese spies.
The protests are the greatest political threat to Hong Kong's government since the territory returned to Chinese rule in 1997, and one of the biggest popular challenges to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
The union group called for the protest after Cathay Dragon, part of Cathay Pacific Airways, dismissed cabin crew union head Rebecca Sy last week.
The Garrison Law allows the Hong Kong-stationed troops to help maintain public order at the request of the city government.
The Hong Kong garrison earlier published a promotional video with scenes of soldiers facing off with people dressed like protesters.
Protesters targeted the Liaison Office, a potent symbol of Beijing's rule, in July, daubing anti-China slogans on its walls and signs.
On Thursday, the CHRF said police have banned a march and rally scheduled for Saturday.
In a similar vein, some Singapore universities have cancelled exchange programmes to Hong Kong after the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned its citizens via an advisory to defer travel to the territory following pro-democracy demonstrations, reported Reuters.
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