Xi Jinping to visit Hong Kong for 20th anniversary of handover

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong for the 20th anniversary of the city's handover to Chinese sovereignty, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

It will be Xi's first visit to the territory as Chinese leader, and is expected to be marked by massive protests.

During his time in the city, Xi will inspect People's Liberation Army troops at their garrison, visit a Chinese-Hong Kong construction project, and swear in Carrie Lam as the next Hong Kong Chief Executive.

He will also attend a major gala celebration to mark 20 years since China assumed control over the city.

Heightened security

Xi's visit is expected to be accompanied by a massive security operation, with parts of the city put into lockdown to ensure protesters cannot get to the Chinese leader.

Hong Kong police have been drilling with their counterparts from Guangdong, across the border in China, for months.

According to the Ming Pao newspaper, front line officers have been told to block "sensitive images and words" from appearing in Xi's line of sight during events, such as signs referencing the Tiananmen Square massacre or expressing a desire for "genuine universal suffrage."

During a visit by Zhang Dejiang, China's third most senior government official, to Hong Kong last year, police glued down sidewalks and erected huge barriers to prevent the public getting anywhere near Zhang.

A spokeswoman for Demosisto, the party founded by pro-democracy protesters Joshua Wong and Nathan Law, said they expected the police presence would be even heavier for Xi's visit.

She said the group was "alarmed" by reports about preventing certain protest materials. "Freedom of speech and political expression is enshrined in Basic Law," she added, referring to Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

Protests and marches

Thousands of Hong Kongers are expected to take to the streets during Xi's visit, particularly on July 1, the date of handover celebrations and a traditional day of protest in the city.

However, an annual pro-democracy rally was denied use of its usual staging ground in Victoria Park, in the heart of the city. The space has instead been promised to a pro-Beijing organization, the Hong Kong Celebrations Association, that will hold a handover commemoration event in the park, local media reported.

While the march will still go ahead, organizers said this was an attempt to crush dissent ahead of Xi's visit.

"The Chinese regime is trying to squeeze out the space that we have in Hong Kong and is a threat to our freedom and democracy," said Lee Cheuk-yan, a longtime pro-democracy activist.

Earlier this year, Joshua Wong told CNN Xi's visit would be a "critical moment to organize civil disobedience and to voice our demand for democracy and human rights."

In a statement, Law said Friday that Demosisto would use the anniversary of handover to "expose the facade of the celebrations for a peaceful China and the happy return of Hong Kong to the 'motherland'."