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Hong Kong security tightened as key Chinese leader visits Hong Kong security tightened as key Chinese leader visits
(about 2 hours later)
Tight security is in place in Hong Kong for the visit of the most senior official from Beijing since large pro-democracy protests in 2014.Tight security is in place in Hong Kong for the visit of the most senior official from Beijing since large pro-democracy protests in 2014.
Zhang Dejiang, the leader responsible for Hong Kong affairs, arrived amid discontent with interference by Beijing. Zhang Dejiang, the leader responsible for Hong Kong affairs, arrived amid discontent with alleged interference by Beijing.
Mr Zhang said he was in Hong Kong "to listen to all sectors of society".Mr Zhang said he was in Hong Kong "to listen to all sectors of society".
More than 6,000 police have been deployed amid planned protests by pro-democracy groups.More than 6,000 police have been deployed amid planned protests by pro-democracy groups.
Banner removed In a five-minute speech on arrival, Mr Zhang, 69, conveyed "President Xi Jinping's warm regards and well wishes for the people of Hong Kong" and said he came "with the care of the central government and all Chinese people".
Mr Zhang, who is also chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and so China's third-highest ranking leader, will speak at an economic conference during his three-day visit, but will also meet with a group of pro-democracy lawmakers.
In a five-minute speech on arrival, he conveyed "President Xi Jinping's warm regards and well wishes for the people of Hong Kong" and said he came "with the care of the central government and all Chinese people".
Noting his trip had "attracted wide attention", he said: "I will listen to the chief executive and the [Special Administrative Region] government regarding their work, and to all sectors of society about what recommendations and requirements they have about implementing the principles of "one country, two systems".Noting his trip had "attracted wide attention", he said: "I will listen to the chief executive and the [Special Administrative Region] government regarding their work, and to all sectors of society about what recommendations and requirements they have about implementing the principles of "one country, two systems".
The South China Morning Post said security was tight at the airport. It said guards reportedly took away journalists' umbrellas, along with a small yellow towel used by one reporter to cover a camera lens. Who is Zhang Dejiang and what is he doing on the trip?
Umbrellas, particularly yellow ones, have become a symbol of the pro-democracy movement. He heads China's Hong Kong and Macau affairs office but is also chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, making him China's third-highest ranking leader after President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang.
Mr Zhang is to speak at a policy conference on President Xi's One Belt, One Road economic project that aims to improve connectivity between China and Eurasia.
He will meet a group of four pro-democracy legislators at a reception, ahead of a banquet.
Why is the trip contentious?
As head of Hong Kong affairs, Mr Zhang was responsible for a key decision in 2014 on Hong Kong's political future and is the highest-ranking mainland official to visit since then.
The mini-constitution, or Basic Law, under which Hong Kong is governed, says the ultimate aim is for the leader to be elected by universal suffrage.
Although China had promised direct elections by 2017, it said in 2014 that the leader, or chief executive, put up for election would come from a list of two or three candidates chosen by an effectively pro-Beijing nominating committee, angering pro-democracy campaigners.
The decision led to full-scale protests, dubbed the Umbrella Movement. Tens of thousands of protesters camped in the streets for weeks but the camps were gradually dismantled with no concessions from the government.
Current Chief Executive CY Leung remains unpopular. Commentators will be watching and listening carefully to see whether Mr Zhang will hint at endorsing him for another term.
Who are the protesters and what are their concerns?
Following the 2014 protests, a number of so-called "localist" groups sprung up and showed themselves willing to use violence to battle what they see as a dilution of the city's identity, fearing growing social and political influence from mainland China.
In February, hundreds of demonstrators dug up and threw bricks during a violent clash with police trying to shut a night food market. The market was seen by the protesters as a symbol of local traditions.
There have also been increasing concerns over the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys - unseen on the mainland - which were integral to the agreement that enabled Hong Kong to be returned to China by the British in 1997.
They include freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, travel and trade union membership.
One incident that raised particular concern was the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers known for publishing controversial books about Chinese leaders.
The men were later found to have been detained by mainland authorities in a move condemned by the UK.
What are the security measures for the visit?
In addition to the 6,000 police officers on duty, hundreds of huge, water-filled plastic barriers have been deployed near Mr Zhang's hotel and the convention centre at which he will speak.
Demonstrators will be given designated areas and are unlikely to be visible to Mr Zhang.
Pavement stones have reportedly been glued together to prevent them from being ripped up and thrown by protesters.
The South China Morning Post said security was tight at the airport for Mr Zhang's arrival. It said guards reportedly took away journalists' umbrellas, along with a small yellow towel used by one reporter to cover a camera lens.
The colour yellow, along with umbrellas, has become a symbol of the pro-democracy movement.
Hours before Mr Zhang landed, activists unfurled a yellow banner on Hong Kong's Beacon Hill reading: "I want genuine universal suffrage". The banner was later removed.Hours before Mr Zhang landed, activists unfurled a yellow banner on Hong Kong's Beacon Hill reading: "I want genuine universal suffrage". The banner was later removed.
Mr Zhang is the highest ranking Chinese official to visit Hong Kong since 2014, when thousands of protesters took over major parts of the city to demand fully free elections. On Monday a Hong Kong man was arrested just over the border in Shenzhen for trying to buy a drone purportedly to be used to disrupt the visit.
Since then a number of so-called "localist" groups have sprung up and shown themselves willing to use violence to battle what they see as a dilution of the city's identity, fearing growing social and political influence from mainland China.
In February, hundreds of demonstrators, fuelled by such localist sentiment, dug up and threw bricks during a violent clash with police as they tried to shut a night food market.
The market was seen by the protesters as a symbol of local traditions.
Earlier this month, reports said paving stones had been reinforced with glue around the legislative building so that they could not be used as projectiles.
And on Monday a Hong Kong man was arrested just over the border in Shenzhen for trying to buy a drone purportedly to be used to disrupt the visit.
The intensity of security arrangements around Mr Zhang's trip are a sign of just how concerned the authorities are, says the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong.
But pro-democracy activists are upset they will be denied the chance to get close to Mr Zhang, and have vowed to challenge the security restriction, our correspondent adds.
Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, which were integral to the handover agreement when Hong Kong was returned to China by the British in 1997.
But concerns that such freedoms could be in question were heightened by the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers known for publishing controversial books about Chinese leaders.
The men were later found to have been detained by mainland authorities in what the UK foreign office called a "serious breach" of protocol.