HONG KONG (UCAN) -- About 100 activists representing religious, pro-democracy and human rights groups protested during the Hong Kong leg of the Beijing Olympics torch relay, prompting negative reactions from some spectators.

Hong Kong was the first city in the host country to host the relay, on May 2. With 119 torch bearers including athletes, businesspeople, celebrities and politicians, the event also marked the first time a traditional Chinese dragon boat was used in an Olympic torch relay.

On May 3, Macau hosted the next leg of the worldwide relay, which began on April 1 in Greece. Afterward the torch began its journey to 113 mainland locations, beginning with Sanya city in the southern island province of Hainan. It will end in Beijing, where the Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on Aug. 8.

On May 2, hours before the official start of the Hong Kong event at 10:30 a.m., tens of thousands of spectators, many in red T-shirts and waving the red Hong Kong and China flags, packed the roadsides in Tsimshatsui, the starting point, under drizzly skies.

About 100 protesters including Catholics also gathered there to demand religious freedom, democracy and human rights in China. One was holding a placard in English that read "Religious Freedoms in China Now." Some protesters called for Tibetan independence.

Earlier, the local government had refused some foreign human rights activists entry into Hong Kong.

Or Yan-yan, project officer of the Hong Kong Catholic diocese's Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), told UCA News on May 2 that she and other protesters failed to deliver red and white roses, symbolizing peace and sincerity, to a torch-bearer. That person, Andy Lau Tak-wah, an actor, ran past them with a group of Chinese Olympic guards.

In its April 30 press release, the JPC demanded the Chinese government free all detained mainland Catholics including priests, and not to force them to join government-approved "official" Church organizations. It also demanded the Chinese government release human rights activists on the mainland and respect civil rights.

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China led the protest, which includes the "Tiananmen Mothers Campaign."

Helena Kwong Hoi-yan, spokesperson of the campaign, told UCA News they expressed support for the families of pro-democracy demonstrators who died during the Chinese government's crackdown at Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. Kwong, a Catholic, said the families have the right to mourn their loved ones openly.

Together with other Catholics, Kwong and Or joined the protest in a procession to demand greater democracy in China and the truth behind the events that have come to be known locally as "the June 4 incident."

Some local and mainland Chinese spectators obstructed the alliance's procession, shouting "traitors" at them and attempting to cover the protesters' placards with China flags. Police separated the two groups to keep order.

Kwong described the demonstration as peaceful and restrained, and defended the protesters as "patriotic" because they are "concerned about the suffering in China."

The carnival-like torch relay ran smoothly and finished in the early evening.

Kong Shuk-fan, a Catholic teacher of St. Mary's Canossian School, brought 200 students and 200 parents to watch the relay. She told UCA News they were excited to witness the historic moment, and that her school has set the Olympic spirit as the theme for its civic education this academic year.

A parent surnamed Kwan told UCA News she wanted to show solidarity with all Chinese worldwide, noting that demonstrations had disrupted earlier relay legs overseas.

Her daughter Vivian and her classmates also said they cherished what was probably a once-in-a-lifetime moment to welcome the Olympic torch, and were impressed by the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship, fair play and peace.

Hong Kong, one of six sites outside Beijing serving as a venue for Olympic events, is hosting the equestrian competition.

By the time the Olympic torch reached Hong Kong on April 30, it had traveled through 19 countries in the 29 days since it was lit in Olympia, Greece. Protesters, mostly advocating Tibetan independence and more human rights in China, disrupted relay legs in many cities.

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(Accompanying photos available at here)