China’s first lady Peng Liyuan expected to join Xi Jinping on two-day visit to Hong Kong for July 1 celebrations
- She is likely to visit the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera after arriving on Thursday, says government source
- Heavy police presence and high-profile patrols are deployed in the area, police warn no acts of violence or public disorder will be tolerated
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to be accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan during his two-day visit to Hong Kong this week, the Post has learned.
But she will not join Xi on his tour of the Hong Kong Science Park in Tai Po after the pair’s expected arrival in the city on Thursday at the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus.
A government source said Peng was likely to visit the Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera next to the railway station at the junction of Canton Road and Austin Road West.
“Security arrangements are ready for her possible visit,” the insider said. “A security lockdown will be put in place around the centre on Wednesday night once her itinerary is confirmed.”
The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority said on its website the centre would be closed from Monday to Friday due to “operational matters”. The MTR exit linked to the centre was also closed.
The preparations for the lockdown around the West Kowloon railway station began on Tuesday night. Police set up posts spaced 10 to 20 metres apart along Wui Man Road, Lin Cheung Road and Jordan Road, in addition to water-filled barricades to control access to the area.
Beyond the high-security area, police are also on guard along stretches such as Nga Cheung Road, Canton Road and Austin Road West.
A heavy police presence and high-profile patrols will also be deployed in the West Kowloon Cultural District where the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+, a museum of contemporary visual culture, are situated. The area is a short distance from the railway station.
The president and his wife will not stay overnight in the city and are expected to return to Shenzhen by train on Thursday night, before returning to Hong Kong by high-speed train on Friday morning.
Xi will then officiate at a ceremony to mark the 25th handover anniversary and oversee the swearing-in of incoming chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his cabinet at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. After the ceremony, Xi will leave the city.
It will be the Chinese president’s first trip outside mainland China since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic more than two years ago.
Police announced road closures around the convention centre in Wan Chai had started from 2am on Wednesday. The public transport interchange at the nearby Exhibition Centre station was also shut at the same time, with 18 bus routes affected.
The Exhibition Centre MTR station in Wan Chai will be closed from 1am on Thursday, according to the force.
Police will also ban the use of drones across the city as part of security measures for the president’s visit.
Lui Kam-ho, the assistant police commissioner for operations, said on Tuesday that the city’s overall terrorism threat level remained “moderate” and there was no intelligence to suggest Hong Kong was a target for any attacks.
He said the ban on drones was made after a risk assessment that took into consideration the practice of overseas authorities, technological advances with the aircraft and their use in carrying out a potential attack, as well as the latest intelligence.
Lui gave a stern warning that authorities would not allow any acts of violence or public disorder.
He said the force would not tolerate anything that might interfere and undermine the security operation in any event, or any person who behaved in a manner that could threaten life or property, undermine public order or endanger public safety.
“We will take resolute action,” he said.
