<span style="color: #222222;">China yesterday deployed its troops in Hong Kong for the first time since the unprecedented pro-democracy protests began in the city more than five months ago over a proposed extradition law.  <br />'' <br />'' Meanwhile, the Hong Kong administration has distanced itself from the troop deployment, saying Beijing has sent the soldiers on its own without any request.<br />'' <br />'' According to media reports, soldiers from the Hong Kong Garrison of People's Liberation Army (PLA) in plain clothes clearing the roadblocks.<br />'' <br />'' It was also the first time in over a year that the PLA local garrison has been involved in the public community work.<br />'' <br />'' A spokesman for the Hong Kong government told that it was a voluntary community activity by the PLA troops and Hong Kong government did not ask for help to clean-up barricades set up by protestors.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Hong Kong was handed over from Britain to China in 1997 under the 'one country two systems' formula granting semi-autonomous status.</span><br />