Runners carried the Olympic flame through Hong Kong without disruption Friday, as large groups of flag-waving torch supporters shouted insults at pro-Tibet and human rights protesters, forcing them to seek refuge in police vans, reported AP.
One angry pro-China mob yelled, "Do you think this is Paris?" to a small group of pro-democracy supporters as they peacefully demonstrated near the start of the torch route. It was a reference to the French leg of the relay that was disrupted by protests.
Police had to put another protester holding a Tibetan flag into a police van after she was threatened by 30 torch supporters who pushed and shoved a dozen officers who were protecting her.
Near Hong Kong's government headquarters, actress Mia Farrow held aloft a separate torch and urged Beijing to help stop the violence in Sudan's Darfur region. But she didn't disrupt the Olympic torch relay.
Despite the tensions, the relay went smoothly on roads soaked by a morning drizzle. No one tried to block the flame as a chain of smiling athletes, movie stars and tycoons jogged around the city amid heavy security. Spectators heeded the government's call to wear red to support the event.
"Every member of our community who defied the rain and took part and played an indispensable role in creating this ocean of red that has washed over Hong Kong today," said Henry Tang, Hong Kong's No. 2 leader.
One of the torch's stops included the grassy venue where the Olympic equestrian events will be held during the Aug. 8-24 games. After being awarded the Olympics, Beijing said it did not have the proper environment for horses and shifted the event to this city.
Hong Kong's eight-hour relay over highways, bridges and through canyons of skyscrapers was a big challenge for authorities in the Chinese territory. The torch was finally back on Chinese soil and Beijing wanted no repeat of the protests and chaos that disrupted the flame during its 20-nation overseas tour.