Ahead of the official opening of the 15th National Games (NG) on November 9, a torch relay was held today in Hong Kong, with 50 torchbearers participating.

The relay was jointly staged for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. Fifty torchbearers were involved, representing various sectors, including sports, sponsors, volunteers, youth, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

A launch ceremony was held at 9am in Shenzhen, followed by ceremonies in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou at 9.30am. The torch relays in each place started simultaneously.

The total route length in Hong Kong was approximately 10 kilometres, divided into five segments.

Starting from the Central Government Offices in Tamar, with Hong Kong table tennis athlete Wong Chun-ting serving as the first torchbearer, the route passed through the Central & Western District Promenade (Central Section), the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade, the Monument in Commemoration of the Return of Hong Kong to China, and Golden Bauhinia Square.

The second section saw the torch cross Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry, then proceed to the third section, in Tsim Sha Tsui. It passed from the Star Ferry Bus Terminus to Salisbury Road and Mody Lane, taking in the Cultural Centre and Hong Kong Museum of Art along the way.

Torchbearers on the fourth section took an open-top bus to the bus terminal at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP). After entering KTSP, bearers on the fifth section passed by the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground and the Kai Tak Sports Avenue before arriving at Kai Tak Sports Park Central Square. The last torchbearer, Hong Kong fencer Kaylin Hsieh, lit the cauldron and the closing ceremony took place.

Addressing the launch ceremony, Acting Chief Executive Chan Kwok-ki said the simultaneous torch relay events were not only a great innovation but also demonstrate the unique advantages of the Greater Bay Area.

He added that the bay area cities will work together to achieve integrated development and establish a world-class city cluster.

Representatives of the four cities are scheduled to return their flames to Guangzhou after the torch relay. A flame-gathering ceremony will be held in the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center ahead of the lighting of the main torch at the opening ceremony for the 15th NG.

Mr Chan said the biggest highlight of the 15th NG torch relay was the collaboration between the four cities, which demonstrated the unique feature of the 15th NG's joint hosting, from the lighting of the "source flame" in Nansha, Guangzhou by representatives of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau to the simultaneous torch relay events in four locations today.