Hong Kong officials and organizers of the Olympic torch relay have been promising surprise performances in Sha Tin racecourse on Friday as the torch arrives at the Olympic equestrian venue in the ongoing relay.

"We will keep it a secret till the moment. It will be surprise, " an official said upon being asked about the arrangements in Sha Tin, where there will be a huge gathering.

Lee Lai-shan, Hong Kong's first gold medal Olympian, started the torch relay at 10:28 a.m. on Friday after taking over the torch from the city's Chief Executive Donald Tsang. The torch relay has been proceeding as planned so far, with local residents waving national flags along the route from the Cultural Center in Kowloon.

Officials said special performances in Sha Tin will feature dragon boats, among others, and there will be a gathering of up to 15,000 people in the racecourse.

Sha Tin racecourse was newer one of the two major racecourses in Hong Kong and it has a capacity for over 80,000 spectators. It is one of the top racecourses in the world, with foldable cover, equine hospital, racing laboratory and equine swimming pool. Fours hills had been leveled to turn the sea into land in the project.

Hong Kong is the first leg of the torch relay back in China after it ran through 19 cities across five continents. The 8-hour trip starts at the Cultural Center in Kowloon and will conclude at the Gold Bauhinia Square on Hong Kong Island after crossing the Victoria Harbor and passing by landmark skyscrapers in the financial hub.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2008)