Among the 120 torchbearers, there are top athletes, celebrities, officials, business tycoons, students and teachers.

Wecker, horse, sightseeing ship and dragon boat are used to carry the Olympic flame.

Lee Lai-Shan, a former world champion and Olympic champion windsurfer, launched the relay from the Hong Kong Cultural Center at 10:28 a.m. local time.

Lee, popularly known as "San San", was born in Cheung Chau and started windsurfing aged 12. Over the years, Lee won many international competitions, including the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Hong Kong, in the women's mistral boardsailing class, at the 1996 Olympics and the first champion in the Asian Games representing Hong Kong.

Wong Kam Po, a world champion cyclist, is to wrap up the 27km relay in the Golden Bauhinia Square. Wong won golds in the National Games of China (1997 & 2001) and the Asian Games (1998 & 2006). His 1997 win of the Philippine Marlboro Tour was the only championship won by a non-Filipino in the event.