Police in Hong Kong have reportedly launched a security crackdown as the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, prepares to make a rare and potentially tempestuous trip to the former British colony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its return to China.



The territory, which reverted to Chinese control in 1997, will mark two decades of Chinese rule on 1 July, a highly sensitive occasion likely to spark both celebration and street protest.



Local security forces are gearing up for a busy few months. A cross-border team spread across Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province in mainland China this week launched the region’s largest anti-crime drive since 2000, the South China Morning Post reported.

The newspaper said Operation Thunderbolt was aimed at organised crime and potential terrorist “hideouts”. It said a 29,000-strong force would stage Hong Kong’s biggest ever “anti-terror” drill in May to ensure police were ready for “any scenario”.



A live image of Xi Jinping on a screen above delegates at the national people’s congress in Beijing. Photograph: Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images

Police will stage another big exercise the following month to practise “riot-control measures” and test new equipment, including pepper-spray projectile and anti-riot rubber bullets.

Beijing has yet to officially confirm Xi’s visit, but it is an open secret among Hong Kong delegates to China’s national people’s congress, which started on Sunday.



Speaking at the congress on Tuesday, Michael Tien, the deputy chairman of Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing New People’s party, said he was excited about Xi’s arrival.

Cheung Ming-man, a Hong Kong singer and congress delegate known for his pro-Beijing songs, said he was also exhilarated at the prospect of seeing the Communist party’s “big boss” come to town. “We need to show our gratitude to the Chinese Communist party for what we’ve achieved so far,” Cheung said.

Beijing will see Xi’s visit as a chance to celebrate Hong Kong’s return to Chinese control after 156 years of British colonial rule and to reaffirm its own rule over the city following 2014’s umbrella movement demonstrations and a surge in support for pro-independence politicians among its youth.



During his tour, Xi will reportedly oversee a military review of People’s Liberation Army troops that have been based on Hong Kong island since Britain’s exit.

But for members of Hong Kong’s vibrant pro-democracy movement, who stage sometimes massive annual 1 July rallies as part of their quest for more political rights, it also provides an unmissable opportunity to protest against the erosion of their freedoms.



“If he does come, protests would be unavoidable,” said Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy lawmaker.

Cheung said he was unconcerned about protests. “We’re quite confident that Hong Kong police will fulfil their responsibility to protect our leaders,” he said, adding: “They do have their bodyguards, too.”



Since the handover, Hong Kong has been ruled with far greater political freedoms than the authoritarian mainland, thanks to the “one country, two systems” formula. However, a series of scandals, including China’s alleged abduction of a group of local booksellers, have fuelled fears that the semi-autonomous territory is gradually being stripped of its much-treasured freedoms.

A report published last week by the US State Department – and which Beijing rejected as unfounded and prejudiced – said: “The most important human rights problem reported [this year] was the central government’s encroachment on Hong Kong’s autonomy.”

Additional reporting by Wang Zhen