President Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong next week. Fences have been erected to protect Government House (inset)

President Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the city’s “return to the motherland” according to Xinhua.

The president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee will also attend the inauguration ceremony of incoming Chief Executive John Lee, says Xinhua.

New security fences now encircle Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. They are thought to be related to the president’s visit

Already heavy security barricades were seen around Government House, with fences deployed separating Upper Albert Road from Albany Road and the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens.

A police source said the fence deployment fell within “operational details” and would not comment further.

And around the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the inauguration ceremonies will take place, barricades have appeared on parts of Bauhinia Square.

Xi is also expected to visit the new Palace Museum, which hundreds of workers have in recent weeks been scrambling to complete the finishing touches of, and which last week announcing it will open to the public on 2 July.

Police have not responded to questions on Xi’s expected itinerary or traffic and transport arrangements for the visit.