He has applied for a letter of no objection to police for the event, but said he had not heard anything so far.

A police spokesman said officers were looking into the application and would make a decision in accordance with procedure.

Police are ramping up security measures ahead of his visit, ­deploying 10,000 officers and erecting water-filled plastic barricades at key sites in an attempt to prevent disturbances.

Chan founded his party last year, claiming it was funded ­entirely by the donations of its 50-plus members, mostly university students and young activists.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaoming, director of the liaison ­office, said in an interview with China Central Television that a small group of pro-independence advocates were testing the ­patience of Beijing.

“Zero tolerance is necessary,” he warned.

Zhang also said that while he felt the “one country, two ­systems” formula had been ­successful over the past 20 years,he had one regret – society had a ­tendency to politicise matters.

As a result, this had delayed national security legislation and distracted the government from focusing on ­improving the ­economy and people’s livelihoods.

Zhou Nan, who ­performed the role of Zhang ­before the handover, also spoke to RTHK about independence.

The former director of Xinhua News Agency, the forerunner of the liaison office before 1997, said he was not surprised about the rise of independence ideas ­because four or five generations of Hongkongers had been “brainwashed” by the British.

Zhou said those who opposed the introduction of national education lessons in schools had essentially“deprived” people of the right to learn about China.

He agreed that a national ­security law should be passed as soon as possible.