The Hong Kong segment of the torch relay for the 15th National Games took place today, with 50 torchbearers participating in the event ahead of the Games' opening ceremony on Nov. 9. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law lit the ceremonial cauldron, after which Acting Chief Executive Eric Chan ignited the torch and presented it to the public.
Hong Kong men's table tennis athlete Wong Chun-ting served as the first torchbearer, later passing the flame to Chinese women's fencing champion Sun Yiwen. Other athletes participating in the relay included Hong Kong women's swimmer Stephanie Au, retired rugby player Salom Yiu, and women's fencer Kaylin Hsieh, who ran the final leg.
Of the 50 torchbearers in the Hong Kong relay, 42 were nominated locally, with approximately half representing the sports sector, while the 15th National Games Organizing Committee provided the remaining eight. The list also included prominent political and business figures, such as Martin Liao, Martin Lee, Adam Kwok, Timothy Fok, and Jacob Kam.
The Hong Kong Island segment of the relay concluded around 10 am. Former Hong Kong table tennis representative and current head coach Li Ching, the 23rd torchbearer, received the torch at the Wan Chai Ferry Pier and carried it across Victoria Harbor aboard the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui. During the ferry ride, Li enthusiastically waved to onlookers, gave a thumbs-up, and interacted with the crowd by making heart gestures.
The latter part of the relay continued from the Star Ferry Bus Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, passing through Salisbury Road, where torchbearers transferred to an open-top bus heading to the Kai Tak Sports Park for the flame-extinguishing ceremony. Many citizens lined the route to cheer on the relay, waving national and regional flags as children expressed their excitement.
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