Police said yesterday they will deploy 3,000 officers to ensure a smooth Olympic torch relay on Friday.

Police Public Relations Branch Chief Superintendent David Ng said police escorting the torch bearers will not be armed and will dress in the same color as the escorting staff from Beijing.

But Hong Kong police will not be wearing baseball caps like the escorts, he said.

At least one organization has indicated that it will stage a protest on the day of the relay, he added.

Police are talking to the organization and will try to facilitate the protest, he said.

There will be about 20 designated protest zones on the day around Hong Kong, said Ng, adding that there is no law in the city that prohibits anyone from displaying the Tibetan flag.

However, it will be an offence if protesters disrupt order or are provocative, he added. He urged protesters to restrain themselves.

Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau said Hong Kong is a free city and people can express their views in a peaceful and rational manner.

With the attention of the world media focusing on Hong Kong during the torch relay, she said, Hong Kong should show its most beautiful side and it would be best not to hang laundry outside windows.

As heavy traffic and passenger flow is expected during the event, she asked people to be tolerant and to take note of announcements from the Transport Department and police.

Principal Transport Officer Albert Su said traffic-control measures like temporary road closures and diversions will be implemented on major roads along the relay route.

He urged people to avoid driving to affected areas, particularly Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin Town Centre, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Central.

The Olympic flame will arrive at 2pm today at the airport, where a welcoming ceremony will be held.

Another ceremony will be held at Tsim Sha Tsui's Cultural Centre later today.

The finalized relay route revealed yesterday resembles the route of the informal community torch relay on April 18.

The torch relay will start at 10:30am in the Cultural Centre Piazza, passing Nathan Road, Tsing Ma Bridge, the Shing Mun River, Sha Tin Racecourse, the Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbour, the Legislative Council Building and the Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The 8-hour relay will end at Golden Bauhinia Square at 5pm.

The only change is made to the Sha Tin section of the route to bypass three public examination centers on Yuen Wo Road.

Director of Leisure & Cultural Services Thomas Chow said the change is to avoid possible disruption to public examination candidates.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority said the revised route will minimize impact to the public examinations on the day.

The Authority has issued guidelines to all examination centers.

Examiners are reminded to delay examinations by a maximum of 15 minutes if one-fifth of students cannot arrive on time due to traffic conditions.

There will be three celebrations on Friday.

An opening ceremony will be held before the relay at 10am at the Cultural Centre.

At 2pm at Sha Tin Racecourse, there will be a community celebration involving 15,000 people from all districts.

When the flame arrives at Golden Bauhinia Square, a closing ceremony will be held. The flame will then be delivered to the airport and sent to the relay's next stop - Macao.

Some services of the Cultural Centre, the Space and Arts Museums will be suspended today and on Friday.

Notices explaining the detailed arrangements will be posted at the venues.

The Hong Kong Observatory forecasted there will be rain patches on Friday.

(HK Edition 04/30/2008 page1)