Huge water-filled barriers were put up near the access points to the HKCEC and the surrounding of Wanchai Tower. Police have closed the roads near Golden Bauhinia Square to enhance the inspections in the area. Officers were seen patrolling from time to time.

The main celebration activities of July 1 will be held at HKCEC in Wan Chai and Golden Bauhinia Square in the morning.

President Xi Jinping will attend a meeting for the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China next week, the government said Saturday, but it left unclear whether he will visit the former British colony for the highly symbolic event.

He will attend the inauguration of Hong Kong's government led by newly appointed Chief Executive John Lee, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The announcement gave no other details.

Security also tightened at the West Kowloon Station as Xi may arrive by high-speed rail, according to local reports. All exits of the stations were closed and sealed off by police tape or metal barriers. The police key points and search division were also deployed for security checks in the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Separately, exit E of the Austin Station was temporarily closed “as requested by police”, according to the notice from MTR.

Xi hasn't made a trip outside the Chinese mainland since the start of the coronavirus pandemic two and a half years ago.