The Chinese president has arrived in Hong Kong to mark the twentieth anniversary of its handover from Britain to Beijing.

Xi Jinping arrived amid a massive security operation across the city ahead of celebrations to mark Saturday’s (July 1) occasion and pro-independence and pro-democracy protests.

Britain returned Hong Kong to Beijing rule in 1997 under a formula of “one country, two systems” which guarantees wide-ranging autonomy and judicial independence not seen in mainland China.

Many young people have condemned what they see as increasing Beijing influence stifling dissent and civil liberties.

Hong Kong is being molded into China’s image two decades after the handover https://t.co/Let2WC6jzb pic.twitter.com/q3ysx66OA5— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 29, 2017

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong detained by police https://t.co/iBMX75BCVH pic.twitter.com/mMTZjnMOcG— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) June 28, 2017