Olympic torch relay underway in Hong Kong

The Olympic torch relay got underway in wet conditions in Hong Kong, in what is seen as a last chance for protesters to pile more pressure on China over Tibet and its human rights record.

The Olympic torch relay got underway on Friday in wet conditions in Hong Kong, in what is seen as a last chance for protesters to pile more pressure on China over Tibet and its human rights record.

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It was handed to Lee Lai-shin, Hong Kong's only Olympic gold medallist, to kick off a run that will take the Beijing flame along tightly secured streets and across the city's spectacular Victoria Harbour.

Thousands of people thronged the streets, many of them from mainland China where a backlash has been building over international criticism of Beijing's Communist rulers.