A group Hong Kong activists deported from Japan after landing on disputed islands in the East China Sea has returned home in their fishing boat to a hero's welcome.

The seven activists who returned Wednesday were part of a 14-person group that evaded the Japanese Coast Guard to reach the islands a week ago. Their arrest and expulsion inflamed anti-Japan sentiment in China. The other seven were sent back by plane on Friday.

The uninhabited islands are known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. They're surrounded by rich fishing grounds and may also be near underwater natural gas deposits. They're controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.

The activists' boat was greeted by throngs of supporters as it arrived on Hong Kong's waterfront.