Chinese President Hu Jintao waves after he arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on June 29, 2007.- Xinhua

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Hong Kong by special plane at 11:32 a.m. Friday to attend the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and the swearing-in ceremony of the third-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and his wife Liu Yongqing flew into Hong Kong from Beijing.

Among Hu's entourage who arrived aboard the same plane were Wang Gang, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Sheng Huaren, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC); Tang Jiaxuan, state councilor; Liao Hui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; and Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen mounted the special plane to welcome Hu Jintao and his wife. Two Hong Kong children presented banquets of flowers to them.

Upon arrival at the airport, Hu told reporters, "The 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China is a happy event for Hong Kong and for the whole country as well."

Hu and his entourage were also greeted at the airport by Donald Tsang's wife Selina Tsang, Chief Secretary for Administration Rafael Hui Si-yan; Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen; Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung; President of the Legislative Council Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai; and Leung Chun-ying, convenor of the non-official members of the Executive Council.

Gao Siren, director, and Peng Qinghua, deputy director, of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Lu Xinhua, commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR; and Wang Jitang, commander, and Zhang Rucheng, political commissar, of the Chinese PLA Garrison in the HKSAR, were also present at the airport to greet President Hu.