Rioters in Mong Kong in February lifted the lid on the so-called “localist” groups considered a more radical force in Hong Kong politics
Tight security is in place in Hong Kong as the most senior official from Beijing to travel there since the pro-democracy protests of 2014 arrives.
Zhang Dejiang, the man responsible for Hong Kong affairs in Beijing, arrives amid concerns over the territory’s freedoms and interference by China.
More than 6,000 police have been deployed, drones banned and tall barriers put up in central areas.
Pro-democracy groups say they will stage protests during the visit.
Mr Zhang, who is also chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and so China’s third-highest ranking leader, is in Hong Kong for three days to speak at an economic conference, but will also meet with a group of pro-democracy lawmakers.
Hours before he landed activists unfurled a banner on Hong Kong’s iconic Beacon Hill reading: “I want genuine universal suffrage”. Police later removed the banner, our correspondent said.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Zhang Dejiang (centre) is among the top leaders of China – third highest after President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang
He 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.
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 – seen by protesters as a symbol of local traditions.
Image copyright AP Image caption Rioters in Mong Kong in February lifted the lid on the so-called “localist” groups considered a more radical force in Hong Kong politics
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. Drones have also been banned as part of the heightened security measures.
Image copyright EPA Image caption Huge barriers have cordoned off security zones in central Hong Kong
Image copyright EPA Image caption Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the Chinese mainland
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.
BBC