The official welcome will be much warmer. It includes a procession down The Mall, a banquet at Buckingham Palace tonight, and the bathing in red light of London landmarks including the Royal Academy, the London Eye and Somerset House as a mark of respect to the leader of one of the world’s last communist states.

Tomorrow Mr Hu will address the House of Commons, meet Tony Blair at Downing Street and open an exhibition of Chinese imperial art at the Royal Academy.

When Jiang Zemin, Mr Hu’s predecessor, made a state visit to London six years ago the police caused an outcry with heavy-handed tactics against demonstrators. This time the Government says that peaceful protests will be allowed to go ahead uninhibited.

“People are perfectly entitled to wear ‘Free Tibet’ T-shirts or anything else,” the Prime Minister said yesterday. “We live in a free, democratic country . . . of course, people are perfectly free to say what-ever they want to say.

“The one thing I have not noticed going around the place (London) is a shortage of demonstrations. It would be a relief that they are aimed at someone else.”

Democracy activists, protesters calling for Tibet’s independence, members of the Falun Gong religious group and supporters of Taiwan are planning to take Mr Blair at his word.

“We are sincerely hoping that the Government will abide by their commitments to allow peaceful protest,” Alison Reynolds, of the Free Tibet group, said. “We are expecting a couple of hundred supporters to demonstrate at (Mr Hu’s) arrival and every step of his visit.”

Amnesty International said it was imperative that Mr Blair raised China’s human rights record during his talks with Mr Hu. “China still massively restricts freedom of expression and information, still executes more people than the rest of the world put together, and still harasses and detains people who stand up for human rights,” a spokesman said.

Despite the protests the talks are unlikely to touch on human rights or Tibet. Mr Blair made clear yesterday that he wanted to discuss Britain’s growing multibillion-pound annual trade with China, which is on course to become the world’s second-largest economy in the next 15 years. He also wants better co-operation with the Chinese at the United Nations Security Council, where both countries have permanent seats but often differ on how to deal with international crises.

Mr Hu is expected to press for the lifting of the European Union arms embargo against China, and to pursue his request on visits to Germany and Spain later this week. The EU had planned this year to lift the ban, which was imposed in 1989 after the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square, but backed down under US pressure and after China passed a law authorising force against Taiwan if it seceded from the mainland.

GANG OF FOUR

Free Tibet Seeks Chinese withdrawal and independence for Tibet. Supports the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. Wants the West to press Beijing to renounce its claim over Tibet and recognise the Dalai Lama

Pro-democracy campaign Born during the demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Campaigners want a multiparty system to match economic liberalisation. Strong support among Chinese diaspora in the West

Falun Gong Popular religious cult persecuted by Chinese authorities has a strong following in the West. Wants Beijing to lift its ban and allow religious freedom. One of several religious groups, including Christians, campaigning for freedom of worship

Taiwan Small but vocal and well-organised campaign for self-determination for Taiwan. Taiwan still enjoys US military protection. Threats by China against Taiwan this year persuaded the EU to continue its arms embargo on China

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