A ship sails into Hong Kong after becoming the centre of a row between China and Japan.

Carrying Chinese activists, the ship returned after a journey to an island chain in the East China Sea, claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo.

Last Wednesday (August 22) seven of the group of 14 activists slipped past the Japanese coast guard and landed on the isles - known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

It triggered a diplomatic storm and a tit-for-tat landing by Japanese nationalists.

Back in Hong Kong, the Chinese activists said their boat had been damaged as they battled the coast guard for access to the isles.

Remaining defiant, a banner on the ship read: "Get rid of Japanese thieves".

Seven members of the group have already had a hero's welcome after flying back to China.

An unofficial welcoming ceremony is also expected to greet the ship later on Wednesday (August 22).

The territorial dispute is one of many dogging ties between Asian nations, rowing over areas potentially lucrative in gas reserves.