Top Chinese Visit Hong Kong Security Tightened

Zhang Dejiang, the man responsible for Hong Kong affairs in Beijing, arrives amid concerns over the territory’s freedoms and interference by China.

He is also the chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, is the most senior official to visit Hong Kong since 2014, when thousands of protesters took over major parts of the city to demand fully free elections.

Pro-democracy groups say they will stage protests during the visit.

Hong Kong has launched one if its largest security operations in years, as a high-ranking Chinese politician is set to arrive in the city.

More than 6,000 police have been deployed and restricted zones imposed in the city centre, local media report.