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)

 

HONG KONG, May 2 (Xinhua) -- "Light the Passion, Share the Dream". The Olympic torch relay slogan was fully put into practice here on Friday as the historic run attracted a wide range of participation.

The passion in 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.

According to the statistics released from police source, over one million people took part in the relay in a variety of ways.

"Welcome, the Sacred Flame," "Our Hearts with the Beijing Olympics," and "Go China," read placards.

"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 KongSpecial Administrative Region, before he handed the first torch to Hong Kong's first Olympic gold medalist Lee Lai-shan.

"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 covered a 26-km route, passing by such landmarks as Tsing Ma Bridge, Sha Tin racecourse and the Avenue of Stars before the torch is ferried across the Victoria Harbor onto the Hong Kong Island.

Among the 120 torchbearers, there are top athletes, celebrities, officials, business tycoons, students and teachers.

Wecker, horse, sightseeing ship and dragon boat are used to carry the Olympic flame.

Lee, a former world champion and Olympic champion windsurfer, launched the relay from the Hong Kong Cultural Center at 10:28 a.m. local time.

Lee, popularly known as "San San", was born in Cheung Chau and started windsurfing aged 12. Over the years, Lee won many international competitions, including the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Hong Kong, in the women's mistral boardsailing class, at the 1996 Olympics and the first champion in the Asian Games representing Hong Kong.

Wong Kam Po, a world champion cyclist, wrapped up the 26km relay at the Golden Bauhinia Square. Wong won golds in the National Games of China (1997 & 2001) and the Asian Games (1998 & 2006). His 1997 win of the Philippine Marlboro Tour was the only championship won by a non-Filipino in the event.

Movie stars and pop singers, including Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau, Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Eason Chan Yik Shun and Kelly Chen, added fuel to the spectators' excitement.

Cheung is a Hong Kong singer and actor from the mid-1980s to the present. The Chinese-language media refer to him, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Canto pop Four Heavenly Kings.

Cheung is sometimes dubbed the God of Songs, a title which was once owned by another Cantopop singer Sam Hui. His successful music and acting career has made him one of Hong Kong's icons. Cheung was elected by the Time Magazine as one of the 25 most influential persons in the new Hong Kong in 1997.

Torchbearer Andy Lau (C), Hong Kong singer and actor, runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Hong Kong, south China on May 2, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Andy Lau Tak-Wah is a Hong Kong Cantopop star, movie actor and producer. He has been Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actor since the 1990s.

Andy Lau has since appeared in more than 100 films, and has a huge fan base throughout Asia with the success of both his onscreen performance and his musical career. He is a very good singer. Andy Lau is best known for his (often) recurring roles as a "Heroic Gangster."

"I was a bit nervous today. The big crowd is not a surprise forme for all the people I met told me they would come to the street to see the torch relay, but when you realize you are holding the Olympic flame and passing the torch for the Beijing Games, you just can't control your nerves," said Lau, who was the fourth to carry the torch.

"It's a recognition and a show of respect for us artists to be selected as torchbearer. That's really encouraging.

"I would go to watch the Beijing Games for sure. Luckily I have got tickets for the opening ceremony and a couple of semifinal tickets, but tickets for my favorite sports like 110m hurdles, volleyball and diving are not available yet," said Lau.

Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Canton pop singer and actress. She is also credited as Chen Huilin.

"The torch is heavy and pretty. I like it very much, so I decide to fix it at the gate of my house," said Chen.

"It's would be great for the flame to light on so that I can be used for home blessings," Chen said for kiding.

Yu Cuiyi, quadruple gold medalist in fencing in the Athens Paralympics, ran in the ninth leg.

 I feel nervous in the moment of touching the torch. It moved me more than the last Paralympics did," said Yu, who was among "Ten Outstanding Youth of Hong Kong" in 2007.

"I am anticipating to take part in the Beijing Paralympics in September and I think it will be a great joy to compete there. Now I need to train five days a week to keep in form," said she.

The relay ended up at 5 p.m. local time as Timothy Fok Tsun Ting, president of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, passed the torch to Wong Kam Po who lit the cauldron, pulling down the curtain for a historic relay.

As the first relay in Chinese soil, the event won a lot of credits. "As the first relay in China and the first relay in Olympic host city, the Hong Kong relay achieved an absolute success," said Yang Shu'an, vice president of BOCOG.

"After 19 stops overseas, the flame returned to its host country. Today Hong Kong showed the world a fascinating city with a historic relay, marking the beginning of the journey in China. The monumental event will surely go down in history," said Yang.

Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is one of the two special administrative regions of China. The territory lies on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east, west and south. Beginning as a trading port in the 19th century, Hong Kong has developed into a leading financial center.

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

Source: Xinhua