Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday arrived in Hong Kong for a two-day visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the city's July 1 return to Chinese rule, with police throwing a tight security blanket.
Xi, his wife Peng Liyuan and a delegation of mainland Chinese officials arrived at the West Kowloon high-speed railway terminus by a special train from Shenzhen shortly after 3pm.
In a brief opening speech, the president said Hong Kong had “risen from the ashes” after overcoming various severe challenges since his last visit in 2017, which also proved “one country, two systems” was a good system.
The president then met a group of pro-Beijing politicians and tycoons at the Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai, before heading for an inspection of the Science Park in Tai Po.
He is due to attend a closed-door banquet hosted by outgoing Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at her official residence, which might be cancelled at the last minute due to concerns over the local Covid-19 situation.