Indonesian President Joko Widodo met his compatriots in Hong Kong during a two-day visit started Sunday and will meet with business leaders on Monday.
The Indonesian leader delivered a speech to more than 5,000 overseas Indonesians, including many domestic workers, at 2 p.m. on Sunday amid a heavy police presence at Asia-World Expo near the international airport on Lantau Island, RTHK reported.
It was the first time for the Hong Kong police to deploy its elite Counter Terrorism Response Unit armed with Sig Sauer SIG 516 guns on Hong Kong streets.
If Indonesia can prosper more, fewer Indonesians would have to work overseas, Widodo said. He also answered questions from the floor and shook hands with his supporters.
About 20 protesters from Komunitas Buruh Migran (KOBUMI), a human rights group targeting Indonesian migrant workers, rallied outside, urging the Indonesian government to ensure protection for domestic workers from the country in Hong Kong.
They said many of the workers are overcharged by employment agents, while others faced long working hours and poor living conditions.
Widodo is staying at the Conrad Hotel in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island. He will meet business leaders in the city on Monday, which is a Labor Day holiday. Police have stepped up security in Admiralty, Sing Pao reported.