Hong Kong has pulled out all the stops for a smooth and secure visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, his first outside mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in which he is expected to lay down the direction of Beijing’s “one country, two systems” governing formula for the city. Sources also revealed on Wednesday that first lady Peng Liyuan would accompany Xi during his two-day visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule and oversee the transition to the new government led by John Lee Ka-chiu on Friday. Police have thrown a security blanket around the downtown areas where the couple are expected to visit and the main events for the anniversary will be held. But the weather could force some last-minute changes to plans, after the Observatory issued the No 1 typhoon warning signal on Wednesday night. Nearly 3,000 celebration guests and staff members earlier checked into two five-star hotels near the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre in Wan Chai for mandatory quarantine to reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19. They included top officials, government advisers, pro-Beijing heavyweights, tycoons, university chiefs, the heads of statutory bodies, diplomats and church leaders. Police were checking vehicles entering the grounds of the Grand Hyatt and Renaissance Harbour View, allowing only the VIP guests to enter. Among them were former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, chief executive advisers Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, Arthur Li Kwok-cheung and Ronny Tong Ka-wah, and billionaires Victor Li Tzar-kuoi and Lui Che-woo. But the top envoys of at least two Western countries had decided against attending the anniversary events. A spokesman for the British consulate said Consul General Brian Davidson could not attend as quarantine instructions came too late for him to make arrangements for his family. He would have attended, otherwise. A source said United States Consul General Hanscom Smith would not take part either. Describing his quarantine experience, Tong said he was asked to remain in his room and avoid physical contact with other guests unless it was to take a polymerase chain reaction test in a designated area of the building. “The hotel has arranged food delivery,” he said. “It was still a pleasant experience as I can take a rest and have brought along my stuff to work on inside the room.” In terms of the itinerary, guests had only been told to get ready at 2pm on Thursday for a photo session at around 4.35pm, which sources said was a meeting Xi was highly likely to attend. China’s first lady Peng Liyuan to join Xi Jinping in Hong Kong this week But the lack of information had upset some participants, with Donald Li Kwok-tung, former president of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, complaining on social media that the had not received any information apart from a request he check into his hotel on Wednesday. Also undergoing a three-day quarantine were about 50 primary school students from HKFEW Wong Cho Bau School in Tung Chung, who will wave flags to welcome Xi and his delegation as they arrive in the city and bid them farewell on Friday. But principal Wong Kam-leung told the Post they still had no indication of where the children would be sent. Three leading associations representing journalists also expressed deep concern and demanded clarifications from the government after at least 13 reporters from nine local and international media outlets were banned from covering the official events, warning the move would undermine press freedom and people’s right to information. Police have closed roads and restricted access around Golden Bauhinia Square and the convention centre, where the main anniversary events and swearing-in ceremony will be held. Across Victoria Harbour in Kowloon, police on Tuesday night began preparations for a lockdown near the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus, where Xi and Peng are expected to arrive. Police will also be deployed at the West Kowloon Cultural District, where the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ museum of contemporary visual culture are situated, not far from the railway station. 3,000 guests, staff to start hotel quarantine in Hong Kong before Xi’s visit Xi is expected to arrive at the terminus on Thursday afternoon and will be escorted into a bulletproof limousine indoors before his convoy leaves the station. He is then expected to visit the Hong Kong Science Park in Tai Po, before meeting a group of pro-Beijing politicians and tycoons at the convention centre. In the evening, he is likely to attend a closed-door banquet hosted by outgoing Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor at her official residence. Peng will not be joining Xi on his tour of Science Park. Instead, a government source said she was likely to visit the Xiqu Centre in the cultural district. The president is expected to spend Thursday night in Shenzhen and return to Hong Kong by high-speed train on Friday morning. Xi will officiate at a ceremony to mark the handover anniversary and oversee the swearing-in of Lee and his cabinet at the exhibition centre. He is expected to deliver a speech laying down the future direction of the one country, two systems principle and then depart the city with his wife by train. Tam Yiu-chung, the city’s sole delegate to the nation’s top legislative body, said he expected Xi’s visit to reflect the great importance the central government attached to Hong Kong. “I hope he will give instruction on the future of one country, two systems in his speech, how to integrate Hong Kong into the overall situation of national development, and how to make good use of Hong Kong’s strengths,” he said. Police on Tuesday said that while the threat level remained “moderate”, it had banned the use of drones during Xi’s visit after a “strict risk assessment” that took into consideration the practice of overseas authorities, technological advances with the aircraft and their use in carrying out a potential attack. In addition, the Civil Aviation Department will designate a temporary restricted flying zone in the vicinity of Victoria Harbour and several other areas. A restricted area was also established in waters off the exhibition centre at 1pm on Tuesday and will remain in place until 11.59pm on Friday, according to the government. Additional reporting by Jeffie Lam, Chester Wong and Charmaine Choi