China's PM visits HK's Sars spots

China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who is in Hong Kong for the sixth anniversary of the territory's transition from British to Chinese rule, has been visiting locations at the centre of the recent Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak.

He was welcomed by flag-waving residents at a housing development, Amoy Gardens, badly hit by the pneumonia-like illness, and expressed his sympathy with the victims.

Mr Wen also visited the Prince of Wales hospital and praised the medical staff who fought the epidemic.

The BBC Beijing correspondent says Mr Wen's style has been fairly casual, in line with efforts by China's new leadership to portray itself as accessible.

But he says the real measure of the political temperature will come on Tuesday when mass demonstrations are planned against the introduction of a controversial anti-subversion law.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service