Hong Kong  -  A trouble-free rehearsal for the Olympic torch relay was
held in Hong Kong Friday as a survey revealed 93 per cent of the city's
people are opposed to anti-China protests.

The real torch relay on May 2 is unlikely to run as smoothly, however,
as a number of pro-democracy groups prepare to use the event as a
platform to demonstrate over human rights in China.

A full rehearsal of the 30-kilometre relay through Hong Kong caused
nothing worse than traffic congestion as 40 roads along the route were
closed or affected from 10.30 am onwards.

Hong Kong officials are determined to see the relay carried off with as
little trouble as possible as the torch returns to Chinese soil for the
first time after its troubled worldwide tour.

A survey released Friday found that 70 per cent of Hong Kong believe
the relay should not be used to press Beijing on its human rights
record and 93.4 per cent oppose the worldwide protests.

Only 4.1 per cent of more than 1,000 people interviewed by the Chinese
University in Hong Kong said they supported the protests which have
seen ugly confrontations and scuffles in London and Paris.

Protest groups in Hong Kong plan to vent their anger at China over the
recent troubles in Tibet but the survey suggested they would not have
the support of most Hong Kong citizens.

An overwhelming 98.2 per cent of survey respondents said they hoped to
see a successful torch relay in Hong Kong and half said they hoped to
watch the relay through the city.

More than 80 per cent said they were opposed to any boycott of the
Beijing Olympics because of China's human rights record while 92.3 per
cent said it was a time of pride for all Chinese people.

Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed Chief Executive Donald Tsang is expected
to be the first of 120 torch-bearers to run in the 33-kilometre relay,
which will be marshalled by
3,000 police.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, reverted to Chinese sovereignty in
1997 under a "one country, two systems" arrangement guaranteeing
political freedoms and the right to protest. (dpa)