Security measures running smoothly

Wallis Wang

The Exhibition Centre MTR station will be closed until 2pm today as an enhanced security measure.

More than 100 officers with anti-stab vests were stationed outside the West Kowloon station before President Xi Jinping arrived.

Police were on the highest alert in Wan Chai as many roads connecting to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre were sealed off yesterday, as well as the Island Eastern Corridor toward Wan Chai north. They also set up barricades and stopped passing cars.

Each media outlet was only allowed to send one reporter to the West Kowloon station or the HKCEC yesterday. All reporters had their belongings searched by officers and police dogs.

Police also set up surveillance on a building rooftop in Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park.

The Exhibition Centre station and bus stations near the HKCEC were closed and people had to take detours to get to their destination, with some people saying the restrictions caused inconvenience.

"I think the security measures were a little over the top as both Wan Chai and West Kowloon were cordoned off and we could not go anywhere," a man said. But some also said the heavy security was understandable and it did not overly affect them.

"[The handover anniversary] is such a happy day and a few changes on the road arrangement will not affect us," a man said.

Another added: "The area which was sealed off was smaller than I expected. I think it's acceptable as main roads, including Hennessy Road and Gloucester Road, were not sealed."

Restrictions will also be imposed at the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square today, as the area will be designated as a restricted zone. Only holders of valid passes will be allowed entry.

Six members of the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats had their homes searched by national security police even though the party had stated on Tuesday that it will not organize any protests today.

Party chairwoman Chan Po-ying and five other members who had their homes searched - Raphael Wong Ho-ming, Avery Ng Man-yuen, Tsang Kin-shing, Dickson Chau Ka-fat and Yu Wai-pan -were taken to different police stations to be interviewed.

Meanwhile, politicians slammed the celebrations coordination office's "chaotic arrangements." Many of the nearly 3,000 guests and staff placed under hotel quarantine yesterday said their invitation letters arrived "too late."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com