Snipers to take up positions at hotels

Heavily armed police, including snipers, will be deployed around Wan Chai North, where state leaders could be staying in two five-star hotels between June 28 and July 1 to attend the city's 25th handover ceremony, sources say.

The Standard has learned that police issued letters at nearby buildings to seek help to set up "observation posts" at locations around Wan Chai, particularly in the area adjacent to the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel and the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

President Xi Jinping and state leaders stayed in the Renaissance during their visit for the SAR's 20th handover anniversary five years ago.

One of the letters to nearby buildings shown to The Standard said: "The police operation for the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR will be held in the vicinity of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre."

The letter did not mention anything about visits of state leaders, but requested assistance from property owners and operators to allow officers to set up a "police observation post" in their buildings.

But sources said the police guard also targets the two hotels connecting to the HKCEC.

It is understood that snipers and uniformed officers will be deployed at the observation posts, which include areas on top of footbridges around Wan Chai, in particular the section of Harbour Road between Great Eagle Centre and Shui On Centre, which faces the two hotels and the HKCEC.

Officers will be closely monitoring the movement of personnel and cars with a bird's eye view.

While plainclothes officers will spread out and patrol around Wan Chai, police have also alerted building operators that plainclothes officers will be stationed inside their properties for strengthened security in the target area.

It is understood that when Xi visited Hong Kong in 2017, snipers were deployed at various "high points" and the G4 VIP Protection Unit also took part in security arrangements.

However, sources said it has yet to be confirmed whether state leaders will visit the SAR this time, as it will depend on the development of the city's Covid-19 pandemic.

But if they come to Hong Kong, it is likely they will live in only one of the hotels, while it is also possible for them to leave the SAR immediately after the events, without staying overnight.

In a reply to The Standard yesterday, a police spokesman said: "Police will deploy necessary manpower to ensure the relevant events can be conducted in a smooth and orderly manner.

"Police will not publish details of the operational arrangements."

On Tuesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she "cannot confirm at this moment that there will be a visit by the president of our country." But she added her administration will strive to create all possible conditions for state leaders to come to Hong Kong on July 1, when the new government will also take office.

"Of course we anticipate the visit by state leaders," she said. "After what happened in Hong Kong over the past five years, they will give very important speeches to guide our way in future development."

Meanwhile, both hotels have not accepted bookings for June 23 to July 1, while long-term residents were also asked to leave during the period. They are believed to be hosting SAR officials in their seven-day "closed-loop" quarantine before major events on July 1.

An attempt to book a room during the nine days at the Hyatt's booking site yesterday showed a message that reads: "Unfortunately, this hotel is not available during those dates."

The same attempt on Marriott's to book Renaissance Harbour in the period leads to a similar message indicating "there are no rooms available at this property for the dates selected."

It is understood that more than 1,000 personnel, including senior government officials, guests at handover ceremonies and police officers, will be required to check in at the two hotels for quarantine.