HONG KONG -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived in Hong Kong Sunday to attend celebrations marking five years of Chinese rule since the end of the British colonial era, officials said.

Jiang was welcomed at the airport by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

Some 100 children waving Chinese flags and a brass band also greeted Jiang before he was whisked off to the Grand Hyatt Hotel where he will stay during his two-day, one-night visit.

He will attend a welcoming dinner later Sunday to be hosted by Tung, AFP reported.

Police have tightened security around the hotel and the exhibition center and banned unauthorized vehicles from stopping in the hotel's vicinity.

On Monday, Jiang will attend a flag raising ceremony at the convention and exhibition center on waterfront Wanchai and also officiate at the swearing-in ceremony for Tung and his new cabinet.

The Chinese President is expected to receive a hot reception from up to 2,000 demonstrators from various groups, including Falungong and failed Mainland abode seekers.

Security Secretary Regina Ip has expressed confidence security officers will be able to "maintain overall security", with 700 police officers deployed for Monday's celebrations.

Two hundred of those officers will specifically handle protests.

Hong Kong authorities have adopted a no-nonsense approach in their bid to prevent any disruptions from souring the handover festivities.

Heightened security at the territory's chek lap Kok Airport has seen at least 90 Falungong practitioners from countries including Taiwan, Australia, France, Germany and Singapore, denied entry into Hong Kong since June 22, a Falungong spokeswoman Sophie Xiao said.

Beijing has outlawed the Falungong as an "evil cult" although it is still legal in Hong Kong which enjoys autonomy under the "one country, two systems" scheme hammered out by Britain and China.