Olympic torch arrives home in HK

HONG KONG: After a month traveling the globe, visiting 19 cities on five continents, the Olympic torch yesterday returned home, where it will begin its run for the finish line, via Hong Kong, Macao and 113 mainland cities.

"We've come a long way and now we're about to enter our own country's territory. I'm very excited," Qu Yingpu, spokesman for the Beijing Olympic torch relay, said just before the plane carrying the torch landed in Hong Kong.

"We have experienced many things on the road during the past month. There were sunny days and shady days, but the best part was seeing all the smiling faces of supporters along the way," he said.