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| Torch cheered through Hong Kong | Torch cheered through Hong Kong |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of people turned out to watch the Olympic torch parade in Hong Kong, in a largely trouble-free first stop on the flame's journey through China. | Thousands of people turned out to watch the Olympic torch parade in Hong Kong, in a largely trouble-free first stop on the flame's journey through China. |
| Many people waved Chinese flags and cheered, significantly outnumbering small groups of protesters holding pro-Tibet or pro-democracy placards. | Many people waved Chinese flags and cheered, significantly outnumbering small groups of protesters holding pro-Tibet or pro-democracy placards. |
| About 3,000 police were on duty for the eight-hour parade. | About 3,000 police were on duty for the eight-hour parade. |
| Before the relay the authorities had denied access to several activists who were intending to protest. | Before the relay the authorities had denied access to several activists who were intending to protest. |
| Freedom of speech is protected in the territory by the Basic Law - the mini-constitution agreed before the end of British rule in 1997. | Freedom of speech is protected in the territory by the Basic Law - the mini-constitution agreed before the end of British rule in 1997. |
| That, says the BBC's Vaudine England, put Hong Kong officials in a bind: they were required to allow for protests, yet were also under a heavy obligation to Beijing to ensure a smooth event. | That, says the BBC's Vaudine England, put Hong Kong officials in a bind: they were required to allow for protests, yet were also under a heavy obligation to Beijing to ensure a smooth event. |
| Demonstrations over China's human rights record have dogged international legs of the relay - sparking anger in China and galvanising popular support for the Beijing Olympics. | Demonstrations over China's human rights record have dogged international legs of the relay - sparking anger in China and galvanising popular support for the Beijing Olympics. |
| But the police easily dealt with small-scale protests in Hong Kong, briefly detaining a handful of people. | But the police easily dealt with small-scale protests in Hong Kong, briefly detaining a handful of people. |
| The torch was carried by a total of 120 runners during the eight-hour relay leg - the final runner using the flame to light a cauldron on a square overlooking the famed Victoria Harbour. | The torch was carried by a total of 120 runners during the eight-hour relay leg - the final runner using the flame to light a cauldron on a square overlooking the famed Victoria Harbour. |
| Red pride | Red pride |
| Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang kicked off the relay at a ceremony by the harbour. | Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang kicked off the relay at a ceremony by the harbour. |
| "We are a world in a city, where different people with different beliefs and different views have thrived in a spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect," he said. | "We are a world in a city, where different people with different beliefs and different views have thrived in a spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect," he said. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7371047.stm">Torch in China: Clickable map class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7379551.stm">In pictures: Hong Kong relay | |
| The torch would blaze "a trail of unity and peace" as it passed through China in the coming months, he said. | The torch would blaze "a trail of unity and peace" as it passed through China in the coming months, he said. |
| Thousands of Hong Kong citizens and visitors from the mainland started lining the relay route on Friday morning, as a light rain fell. | |
| People were being encouraged to wear red to show their support for the torch and for China. | |
| Fu Qiang, a mainland student from Xi'an, held a banner calling on China to unite and support the president, Hu Jintao. | Fu Qiang, a mainland student from Xi'an, held a banner calling on China to unite and support the president, Hu Jintao. |
| "I am here because I think politics should be kept out of sport," the 19-year-old said. | "I am here because I think politics should be kept out of sport," the 19-year-old said. |
| But 20-year-old Lo Waiyin, a Hong Kong student, was harangued by pro-China supporters for bringing a banner that read "Promote Freedom of Speech". | But 20-year-old Lo Waiyin, a Hong Kong student, was harangued by pro-China supporters for bringing a banner that read "Promote Freedom of Speech". |
| "They say I shouldn't be protesting because I am being disrespectful to China," he said. | "They say I shouldn't be protesting because I am being disrespectful to China," he said. |
| The torch will now go to Macau and then begin its journey through more than 100 towns and cities in China on its way to the Olympic stadium in Beijing. | The torch will now go to Macau and then begin its journey through more than 100 towns and cities in China on its way to the Olympic stadium in Beijing. |
| Protesters saw the parade in Hong Kong as the last chance to put pressure on China over its human rights record. | Protesters saw the parade in Hong Kong as the last chance to put pressure on China over its human rights record. |
| But in the days leading up to the relay, at least seven activists were denied entry to Hong Kong, prompting protests from western diplomats. | But in the days leading up to the relay, at least seven activists were denied entry to Hong Kong, prompting protests from western diplomats. |
| Three members of the Students for a Free Tibet campaign told journalists they had been put on a flight from Hong Kong earlier this week. | Three members of the Students for a Free Tibet campaign told journalists they had been put on a flight from Hong Kong earlier this week. |
| Actress and campaigner Mia Farrow was allowed in, however. She is due to give a speech critical of China's ties with Sudan later. | Actress and campaigner Mia Farrow was allowed in, however. She is due to give a speech critical of China's ties with Sudan later. |
| Are you in Hong Kong? Have you taken part in the Olympic torch relay? Send your comments using the form below: | Are you in Hong Kong? Have you taken part in the Olympic torch relay? Send your comments using the form below: |