Zhang Dejiang to visit Hong Kong housing estate during visit

State leader Zhang Dejiang is to visit Science Park and a public housing estate during his three-day visit in Hong Kong next week, thePost has learned.

A source close to the matter said Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung and his assistants met mainland security authorities in Shenzhen on Tuesday night. Both parties finalised the itinerary and security plan for Zhang, the chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, who is to land at Hong Kong International Airport around noon next Tuesday.

“Most of Zhang’s activities will be held at the Grand Hyatt hotel and the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, but he’ll also visit the Science Park in Tai Po and a public housing estate,” the source said. “Zhang wants to understand the development of Hong Kong’s innovation technology and youth ventures.”

Zhang’s gesture came after Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, urged Hong Kong delegates to engage with the city’s youth when Yu launched the mainland’s two-week-long political high season with the opening of the political advisory body’s annual session in March.

Hong Kong police are to deploy 6,000 officers daily to protect Zhang, with the risk level for him raised to the maximum “very high” during the three-day visit. The manpower is to focus on Hong Kong Island, the airport and Kowloon East, but it was not confirmed if the visit to a public housing estate included a family visit or if that would take place in Kowloon East.

Over the past 13 years, at least five senior Beijing officials have visited local residents’ homes during their visits to the territory. Then-president Hu Jintao visited two families in Ma On Shan. Then-vice-premier Li Keqiang made a home visit in Kwun Tong’s Laguna City in 2011, when he was to officiate the opening ceremony of the East Asian Games.