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 today. --Xinhua

The 20th leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay started in Hong Kong SAR at 10:28 am local time today.

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.

"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 first torch to Lee.

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.

The eight-hour torch relay in Hong Kong started from the Hong Kong Cultural Center, a landmark built on the northern coast of the Victoria Harbor in the 1980s. It comprises different function sections so as to accommodate various artistic forms such as concerts, musicals, operas, etc.

One hundred and twenty torchbearers are set to cover 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.

The torchbearers will run through the business district in the Central and finally reach the Gold Bauhinia Square on the southern coast of Victoria Harbor to end the first leg of the torch relay on China soil.