Special report: 2008 Olympic Games  

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (2nd R), Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the first torchbearer Lee Lai-shan, Hong Kong's first ever Olympic gold medallist, display the torch at the launching ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Hong Kong, south China on May 2, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HONG KONG, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong concluded at 16:56 local time on Friday as Wong Kam Po, a world champion cyclist, lit the cauldron at the Golden Bauhinia Square on the southern coast of the Victorian Harbor.

    As Wong, also the last torch bearer, ran into Golden Bauhinia Square, he was greeted by hundreds of people waving red flags and chanting support for Beijing Olympics.

    "The torch relay in Hong Kong has successfully completed, but the Olympic spirit of friendship, peace and harmony will pass on forever," said Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok, president of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, said at the closing ceremony.

    "We expect a successful Beijing Olympic Games and a good performance of Chinese athletes including those from Hong Kong," said Fok, also the second from last torchbearer.

    The 20th leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay started from the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the northern coast the Victorian Harbor at 10:28 am local time on Friday.

    The passion during the first relay in Chinese territory was drastically lit up. Cheers could be heard all through the city as large crowds lined the route despite spells of drizzle. Flags, banners, placards of good-will were far and near.

    Lee Lai-shan, Hong Kong's first ever Olympic gold medalist, was the first runner. She was followed by Olympic table tennis stars Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak and Hong Kong heartthrob Andy Lau.

    "I am lucky to have run my leg very smoothly," said Lee after completing her leg of the torch relay.

    "I am very happy to be the first runner, but also felt a bit nervous at the beginning because it was drizzling," she said.

    The torch relay has passed by such landmarks as Tsing Ma Bridge, Sha Tin racecourse and the Avenue of Stars before it was ferried across the Victoria Harbor onto the Hong Kong Island.

    "Today, the Olympic torch relay resumes on Chinese soil after its global journey across five continents. It is a great and solemn honor for Hong Kong, Asia's world city, to be the first city in China to welcome back the Olympic flame on behalf of our proud nation," said Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, before he handed the torch to Lee to kick off the relay.

    As a cosmopolitan city of China, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to play this bridging role between the peoples of the world, and the people of our country, he said.

    "In Hong Kong, we are a world in a city, where different people, with different beliefs, and different views have thrived in the spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect. This same spirit feeds the Olympic flame, and makes it burn brightly," he said.

    "As the Olympic torch is relayed through Hong Kong - and as it travels across the vast expanse of our country in the months ahead- I truly hope that it will continue to blaze a trail of unity and peace, for all people, of all nations. The goal of 'One World, One Dream' is there for us to achieve," he said.

    One hundred and twenty torchbearers were chosen for the a 26-km-long relay, including top athletes, celebrities, officials, business tycoons, students and teachers.

    For the first time during the Olympic flame's global journey, dragons boats were used to ferry the Flame across a river in Satinarea of Hong Kong.

    Dragon boat races are traditionally held to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a great ancient Chinese poet, and the races are also held to mark major traditional Chinese holidays.

    The Flame also passed the venue of the Beijing Olympic equestrian event to be held here in August. Preparations for the event are reaching the final stage.

    Also for the first time, the Olympic flame was carried on horsebacks in Satin Racecourse, the biggest racecourse in Hong Kong.

    The tradition of horse racing was kept and thrived here after Hong Kong returned to the motherland in 1997. 

    "Today's relay was truly a journey of harmony. Every member of our community who defied the rain and took part played an indispensable role in creating this ocean of red that has washed over Hong Kong today," said Henry Tang, chief secretary of the HKSAR government, at the closing ceremony.

    "It is now time for us to translate our passion into action. Every second counts in the remaining 98 days to the Equestrian Events. We need to make sure everything is in best shape when we welcome back the Olympic Flame in August.

    Tang's remarks were echoed by local residents. More than 100,000 people lined the route of the torch relay and many more were watching the event on TVs, according to local police estimate.

    "I'm very excited, the Olympic Games are held only once every four years, it is a scarce opportunity that the equestrian event will be staged in Hong Kong," said Lau Sze Man, a primary school pupil from Y.C.H. Chiu Tsang Hok Wan Primary School.

    Leung Yin Fong, a student with TIACC Woo Hon Fai Secondary School said that it was worth standing in the rain to cheer for the torchbearers "because everyone is expecting the Olympic sacred flame to come to our city, to witness the historical moment."

    The Olympic flame is set to leave for Macao in the evening of the day for the last leg of its global journey prior to setting steps in mainland China. 

Hong Kong holds ceremony to welcome 2008 Olympic flame

Hong Kong holds a ceremony Wednesday to welcome the sacred flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which arrived here this afternoon. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HONG KONG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong held a ceremony Wednesday to welcome the sacred flame of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which arrived here this afternoon.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee Yang Shu'an said that after some 30 days of relay, the sacred flame of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games eventually arrived in Hong Kong, back to the motherland. Everyone is expecting successful relay of the Olympic torch in the city with great excitement and anticipation. Full story

What Hong Kong torchbearers say about Olympic torch relay

    HONG KONG, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic torch relay is now back in China and Hong Kong, the southern special administrative region, will show you what Asia's world city is like in the 11th year after its return to the motherland.

    Sportsmen represent about one third of the 120 torchbearers in the first leg of the torch's trip back in China. Pop stars from the city's glamorous entertainment industry, businessmen and lawmakers were also in the Olympic spotlight. Full story

Beijing Olympic flame arrives in Hong Kong

Local pupils cheer for the arrival of the Olympic flame in Hong Kong, south China on April, 30. The Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong will be held on May 2. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HONG KONG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The chartered plane carrying the Beijing Olympic Flame landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 13:59 local time on Wednesday for Friday's torch relay through the city. Full story

Theme songs for Olympic Torch Relay, Volunteers unveiled on 100-day countdown 

    BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Olympic and Paralympic torch relay theme song and two theme songs for the volunteer programs were unveiled Wednesday, the 100-day countdown to the Olympic Games, at Tai Miao at the Beijing Working People's Culture Palace.

    The trio songs, "Light the Passion, Share the Dream" "I am A star" and "Smile Beijing", which jumped out from nearly 80,000 contested songs, were finally released at the Fourth Olympic Songs Contest on Wednesday evening. Full story