Room at the inn for Olympic torch
The Olympic torch will be housed at the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui after its arrival from Vietnam on April 30, a source revealed.
The source said the torch would be kept at the hotel until the relay began in Tsim Sha Tsui at 10am on May 2. The relay will end in Wan Chai at 6pm.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Peter Yam Tat-wing said yesterday the marine police would help when the Olympic torch was at sea and the Transport Department would also work with the police.
Mr Yam refused to say how many police officers would be mobilised for Friday's trial, but said it would be a 'real time' test run.
He said police had prepared a security plan for the torch relay, but there might be adjustments after the trial run.
'We will send some officers to the motorcades for command and co-ordination [duties on Friday],' he said. He said police had received only one protest application for May 2, from the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, and the force was considering some of the applicant's demands.
Hong Kong's Olympic gold medal winner Lee Lai-shan - who is tipped to be one of the 120 torch-bearers in the city - said she did not know who would run the first leg of the relay in Hong Kong.
'All people chosen to be torch-bearers are significant ... I will respect the organiser's decision,' the windsurfer said, adding that she believed the police would protect torch-bearers.
When asked if she needed to prepare for the relay, she said: 'I believe I am physically qualified to do the job'.
Hong Kong Tourism Board chief and lawmaker James Tien Pei-chun said he expected a smooth relay.
