Part of Guangzhou will be turned into a no-go zone this morning as the trial of alleged crime boss 'Big Spender' Cheung Tze-keung starts.
The secret trial begins at 8.30am at Guangdong Higher People's Court.
Cangbian Road in central Guangzhou, where the court is located, is expected to be closed to traffic as a fleet of at least 20 police vehicles escort Cheung and 35 others to the building.
About 400 paramilitary police and Public Security Bureau officers are expected to help escort the gang from two high-security custody centres.
It is understood the gang will be driven in five police trucks, guarded by armed police officers. The State Security Council is also believed to be involved in security at the court and the transfer.
In Cangbian Road and nearby Zhongzhan Fourth Road yesterday, security had been tightened and uniformed officers armed with semi-automatic weapons patrolled the area.
Cheung, 43, will appear with 35 alleged Hong Kong and mainland accomplices, aged between 24 and 54. Mainlander Lu Yueying, 26, is the only female defendant.
