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RELAY STARS: Hong Kong actors Andy Lau (above) and Alex Fong Lik Sun - surrounded by security officers - running past the crowds in Hong Kong yesterday. Celebrities were picked to kick off the relay in a move to ease potential unrest. -- PHOTOS: AP, XINHUA
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HONG KONG - HONG KONG breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as it hosted a successful Olympic torch relay and kept in check protests that had marred the flame's overseas journey.
It was desperate to avoid controversy given that it was the torch's first stop back on Chinese soil after a trip through 22 global cities.
Many had thought the overseas protests would be repeated in Hong Kong, which is run autonomously and enjoys freedom of speech despite having returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
But this was not the case as pockets of protesters were overwhelmed by tens of thousands of noisy torch supporters - both Hong Kongers and mainlanders - who turned out in red to support the Beijing Games.
Crowds waved flags and banners with the words 'Beijing 2008' and wore red stickers with four Chinese characters that said 'Go China!'.
Protesters had to be protected from nationalistic supporters by the police.
A highly emotional Hong Kong University student, Miss Christina Chan, had to be dragged away into a police van as she was threatened by a sea of red near the start of the relay in Tsim Sha Tsui.
She had wrapped a Tibetan flag around her while chanting pro-Tibet slogans to protest against China's recent crackdown in the region following deadly riots.
'Are you Chinese?' one torch supporter shouted at Miss Chan before she was taken away.
Another hollered: 'This is not Paris', referring to vehement relay protests in the French capital that led to a widespread Chinese threat to boycott French goods.
Other protesters, carrying banners like 'Return power to the people', voluntarily sought cover in a police van as torch supporters branded them 'traitors'.
Popular stars and athletes such as Andy Lau, Kelly Chen and Hong Kong's only Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai Shan were picked to start the relay - a move many saw as a tactic to ease potential unrest.
In contrast, many pro-Beijing politicians and businessmen, who were more likely to attract protesters, ran in areas that were less accessible or closed off entirely to the public, such as the Tsing Ma Bridge.
Prior to the flame's arrival, the authorities had deported at least seven activists they believed could be troublemakers. This drew criticism that Hong Kong had tarnished its famed status as a free city.
However, Hollywood actress Mia Farrow was allowed into Hong Kong on Thursday after giving her word that she would not disrupt the relay.
She is a prominent critic of China's perceived failure to do more to stop alleged atrocities such as the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.
The torch relay itself, which involved 119 torch-
bearers, proceeded without a hitch on foot, dragon boat, horseback and yacht.
Windsurfer Lee was first to carry the torch, while Asiad champion, cyclist Wong Kam Po, rounded it off at the Gold Bauhinia statue in Wan Chai, which overlooks the famous Victoria Harbour.
At midday, the flame had also passed through the Shatin racecourse, where the Olympic equestrian events will be staged in August.
The torch moves to neighbouring Macau today before heading to Sanya, Hainan province.
vincec@sph.com.sg
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