In attendance and the first to greet him was a beaming Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Others who stood behind Zhang as he spoke were Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor and Finance Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, and in the same row was Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing.

Zhang stepped out of the aircraft before noon, followed by a welcoming anthem from government musicians. Smiling, he shook hands with local officials and received flowers from schoolchildren.

Zhang, head of a committee overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs and formerly party chief of Guangdong province, said he would see old and new friends in the city and learn about Hongkongers’ lives.

“The last time I came to Hong Kong was in 2004,” he said during his five-minute remarks. “Time flies. Twelve years passed so swiftly.”

He opened his remarks by conveying well wishes from President Xi Jinping to the people of Hong Kong. Zhang then noted he was aware of the high level of attention paid to his trip and made a light-hearted reference to the weather.

“The weather is very fine today,” he said. The weather is fine in both Beijing and Hong Kong.”

“Hong Kong and I, may I say, are bonded,” he continued. “All memories are vivid in my mind.”

Zhang briefly recalled his life in Guangdong province when he fostered closer ties with Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta cooperation project.

“We scored victory in the fight against Sars,” he added, appearing to address recent online criticism of Guangdong’s handling of the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis, which later spread to Hong Kong in 2003.

He ended his remarks by expressing optimism about his visit.

As the state leader arrived in the city, the heightened airport security directed at media covering the event raised eyebrows.

Security guards reportedly took away many journalists’ umbrellas for temporary keeping.

They also took away a 40 by 40cm yellow towel brought by one reporter meant to cover camera lens.

But reporters clad in yellow appeared to be permitted to proceed through security.

Umbrellas, especially yellow ones, were a symbol of the pro-democracy Occupy movement in 2014.

Meanwhile, members of pro-democracy group the League of Social Democrats put up a banner on a structure along North Lantau Highway, near the airport, that read: “End Chinese communist party dictatorship.”

Around 12.40pm, the video showed several police surrounding league members and speaking with them.

Ng was heard saying he had never heard about such a charge.

“We want to ask Zhang Dejiang not to hide and go back to Beijing,” Ng was heard telling a reporter at the scene. “If he’s afraid of people in Hong Kong, don’t come to Hong Kong.”

The officers arrested four league members, including Ng, and took them into police vans and drove away.

In Wan Chai, at 12.15pm, ahead of Zhang’s arrival at the Grand Hyatt, police asked all reporters outside the hotel to submit to security inspections before entering the designated press area.

This included a bag check as well as scanning individuals with a metal detector. A sniffer dog was also on standby.

The state leader arrived at the hotel along with a long fleet of vehicles, which consisted of over two dozen vehicles, at around 12.45pm.

A helicopter could be seen hovering near the hotel as the fleet pulled in.

Moments before Zhang arrived at the hotel, a group of around a dozen protesters, including three members from the post-Occupy group Demosisto, attempted to get near the hotel from various buildings nearby.

The group said they had booked a room at a hotel near the Grand Hyatt ahead of the state leader’s visit and hid at three different locations – Shui On Centre, Harbourview Hotel and the Art Centre – prior to Zhang’s arrival today.

The protesters were swiftly subdued by officers, but they were not arrested.

Demosisto’s Derek Lam Shun-hin, who hid at Shui On Centre and dressed in a suit to blend in with the crowd, said they wanted to tell Zhang that Hongkongers had a right to self-determination.

“As soon as we held up our signs, the police grabbed them from us,” he said. “Why are the Hong Kong and central government such cowards and ignoring Hongkongers’ demands?”

Demosisto’s Nathan Law Kwun-chung attempted to get near the Grand Hyatt from the Harbourview hotel.

He said the guerilla methods were chosen as the group did not see a point in making demands in designated protest zones.

“Those designated zones basically cannot see any Chinese officials or have any interaction with them,” he said. “I don’t think it’s meaningful to protest there.”

Demosisto’s Joshua Wong Chi-fung, who tried to breach the police cordon via the Art Centre, said there were around 10 plainclothes officers inside the building and 40 more at the entrance.

He said officers stopped him as soon as he stepped out of the building.

A police source with knowledge of the matter said the force only stopped them from getting near the hotel.

“They should have known that the surrounding area would be restricted zones whenever Zhang passes by,” the source said.

Zhang’s airport remarks

To all friends in Hong Kong and the media, greetings.

First of all, please would our friends in the media help convey President Xi Jinping’s warm regards and well wishes for the people of Hong Kong. I notice that my trip to Hong Kong has attracted wide attention.

The weather is nice today. The weather is very good in both Beijing and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong and I, may I say, are bonded. During my tenure in Guangdong province I worked with the Hong Kong government and other sectors on fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation as well as cooperation in the Pearl River Delta region.

We scored victory in the fight against Sars. All memories are vivid in my mind. The last time I came to Hong Kong was in 2004. Time flies. Twelve years passed so swiftly.

The objectives and details of my visit to Hong Kong this time can be summarised in three words.

First, seeing. I plan to see Hong Kong’s new changes after all these years, see old and new friends, and see the lives of Hong Kong residents.

Second, listening. I will listen to the chief executive and the SAR government regarding their work, and to all sectors of society about what recommendations and requirements they have about implementing the principles of ‘one country two systems’ and on Hongkongers administering their city and with a high degree of autonomy, as well as the implementation of the Basic Law, and the development of the nation and of Hong Kong.

Third, speaking. At the one belt one road summit organised by the Hong Kong government tomorrow I will give a keynote address. At the welcome banquet held by the HKSAR government tomorrow evening, I will deliver a formal speech. On other occasions, in other settings, I may continue to give some speeches.

In short, I come this time with the care of the central government and all Chinese people for the Hong Kong SAR and Hongkongers. I believe I can achieve my intended goals.