Font size: 
Hong Kong government officials quickly dubbed the near-flawless run "a journey of harmony." The torch is now on its home stretch as it travels through China right up to the Summer Games in Beijing, which begin Aug. 8. The flame headed for Macau Friday after its Hong Kong run, from where it will cross over to mainland China.
Thousands of people responded to the government's call to wear red, adding color and festivity to the event despite the morning drizzle. Some 15,000 free red T-shirts, distributed by a local clothing chain, were snapped up yesterday by people eager to display their Olympic spirit.
Unlike many of the relay venues overseas, where human rights advocates and pro-Tibet protesters have disrupted the run, in Hong Kong few protesters were visible along the torch route. Security was extremely high and ahead of the relay the whereabouts of the torch, which had arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday, was a closely guarded secret.
Media reports from various locations on the torch route highlighted a few stray incidents where a handful of protesters attempted to unfurl a Tibetan flag or hold up placards. Most of these were met by fierce criticism from pro-China onlookers accusing them of being traitors and not supporting China. In at least one case police intervened, hustling protesters into a police van to prevent the situation from escalating into a bigger scuffle. They were later released.
Patriotic spirit and nationalist pride were in full evidence. Visitors from the mainland were among the most enthusiastic, cheering in Mandarin rather than the local Cantonese dialect.
At the Shatin race course, where the Olympic equestrian events will be held during the August games, spectators were seated in the stands while the torchbearers ran around the field with the Olympic flame. Busloads of schoolchildren and elderly people, all wearing the same red T-shirts and waving the same China flags, packed the stands.
"I am very excited and this is a very good experience," said Fiona Wong, a local middle-school student who was part of a cheering team for the torch runners. Judging from the enthusiasm in the stands, hundreds of other schoolchildren agreed with her.
Hong Kong University psychology student Janny Lo said she simply felt proud that Beijing was hosting the Summer Games. "I am part of it and watching the Olympic torch relay today, I feel very proud of China," she said.
The few foreign visitors on the street along the torch route seemed to be caught up in the general excitement. Asked about their political views, they made comments about not mixing sports and politics. Given that they were standing in a red sea of patriotic fervor, this was probably wise.
A few human rights advocates were barred from entering Hong Kong in the past week, as immigration officials were tasked with keeping out any undesirables who might crash the torch's homecoming party. Actress Mia Farrow was allowed in only after promising not to do anything to disrupt the relay. She gave a speech about China and Darfur to foreign journalists while the relay was going on.
Elsewhere in the world, critics have expressed concern that China is not fulfilling promises made when it won the bid for the summer games, from guaranteeing press freedom to cleaning up its polluted air. Most locals either overlook this fact or simply do not understand it. The Olympics have given Hong Kong Chinese a chance to feel they belong to a big nation and to share in the pride of hosting a major international event, an opportunity never before experienced in the former colony.
Hong Kong's chief secretary for administration, Henry Tang, expressed this sentiment at the closing ceremony as the torch finished its run. "Every member of our community who defied the rain and took part played an indispensable role in creating this ocean of red that has washed over Hong Kong today," he said.
To a few observers, the uniform red T-shirts, fluttering Chinese flags and especially the high emotional pitch and cries of "traitor" leveled at a handful of protesters, brought to mind China's Cultural Revolution, when young Red Guards hurled similar charges at everyone that didn't agree with them.
It is hoped that by the time the torch arrives in Beijing and the games begin, all the passion and fervor of China's youth will be channeled into cheering for their sports teams, rather than aimed against the foreigners who have dared to be critical of their motherland.
