The Government will do its utmost with thorough planning to ensure the torch relay in Hong Kong will be held successfully, Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing says.

He made the remarks after attending a ceremony to welcome the Olympic flame and launch the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay at Tianamen Square in Beijing today.

Mr Tsang said President Hu Jintao's handing over of the torch to Olympic gold medallist and outstanding hurdler Liu Xiang shows the country attaches great importance to the Olympic flame and the launching ceremony.

He said the Olympic flame is the highest ideal of the Olympic spirit, and the ceremonies signify a milestone of the Mainland's opening up. The torch relay is unprecedented in terms of the route length, geographical coverage and number of torch bearers, he added.

After the relay in Beijing, the torch will be carried through all five continents and back to China with Hong Kong being the first stop. Mr Tsang said the city will serve as a link between the Mainland and other places.