New milestone marked in HK

He noted that the SAR has withstood one arduous test after another and conquered a host of risks and challenges, saying that the city has been reborn and is taking on a vigorous vitality after weathering storms.

Xi was welcomed at the station with a red carpet, hundreds of flag-waving residents, a police band and lion dances. His wife, Peng Liyuan, was among the entourage from Beijing.

The president's itinerary on Thursday included a visit to the Hong Kong Science Park, where he inspected Hong Kong's development of innovation and technology.

Xi, accompanied by outgoing Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, inspected a research laboratory which is part of the InnoHK research clusters at Hong Kong Science Park and encouraged Hong Kong's scientific researchers and entrepreneurs to strive for excellence, according to a news release issued by the SAR government.

He then inspected the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, another part of the InnoHK research clusters, Hong Kong's flagship innovation and technology project.