About 150 protesters from pro-democracy groups waved banners and shouted "China needs democracy" and "End one party rule" as Li and his convoy arrived at Hong Kong's new government buildings for an opening ceremony.
Scuffles broke out between police - who outnumbered the protesters - and the group as they tried to lift a mock coffin symbolising those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China.
"We have no expectations of (Li) whatsoever," Leung Kwok-hung, an outspoken lawmaker who was among the protesters told AFP, as the group was cordoned off to a footbridge about 150 metre from the government offices.
"China's human rights record has been very bad all these years. He is just a bureaucrat. I don't expect much to change (if he becomes premier)," said Leung.
Earlier, another smaller group of protesters were carried away by the police outside the University of Hong Kong as Li attended an event at the campus.
The protesters, some clad in "Vindicate June 4" t-shirts referring to Tiananmen Square, had attempted to enter the university but were stopped by the police.
Li, the expected successor to Premier Wen Jiabao as China's day-to-day administration, arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday looking to showcase himself ahead of the expected leadership reshuffle in Beijing next year.
During his visit, the 56-year-old has announced a series of measures to boost economic ties with the former British colony that was returned to China in 1997, but has carefully avoided any discussion on human rights issues.
He has said however that Beijing will be firm on its "one country, two systems" rule and will continue to allow Hong Kong to enjoy its high degree of autonomy.
The southern Chinese city maintains its own political and legal system, and guarantees civil liberties not seen on the mainland, including the right to protest.
Li reiterated Hong Kong's "irreplaceable role" in China's opening up and reform, as he wrapped up the three-day tour.
"I am very confident in Hong Kong's future development. My understanding of the city has deepened after this visit," he told reporters at the airport before his departure.
- AFP/de
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