Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-shing (L) and President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong Timothy Fok Tsun-ting (R) hold up the torch. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

The Chinese Hong Kong Sports Association and Olympic Committee announced on January 30, 2008, that the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong would be held on May 2, 2008.

The torch will pass through Kowloon, the New Territories and Hong Kong Island to showcase the unique features and beautiful views of Hong Kong to the world. The whole process is to last for eight hours.

On the morning of May 2, 2008, the starting ceremony of the Olympic torch relay will be held in the Hong Kong Cultural Center in Tsim Sha Tsui. After that, 120 torchbearers will run or take cars, buses and boats to transport the torch through the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, Nathan Road, Tsing Ma Bridge, Shing Mun River, the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin), the Shatin Racecourse, the Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbor, the Legislative Council Building, Olympic Square, the Hong Kong Conference Exhibition Center and, finally, Wanchai Golden Bauhinia Square, where the closing ceremony will be held.

A noteworthy feature of the torch relay in Hong Kong is the Olympic torchbearers who will be taking a dragon boat. The torchbearers will get on a dragon boat and cross the Shing Mun River escorted by many dragon boats.

In order to let more citizens learn more about the torch relay, the Hong Kong SAR government will launch a torch relay website. Hong Kong will also hold tour exhibitions of the Olympic torch relay starting in March.

(BOCOG February 1, 2008)