CM Tsui is a teacher in Hong Kong. He explains what makes Hong Kong a unique starting point for the journey of the torch through China.  I am a Chinese as well as a Hong Kong citizen. I lived under British colonial government for 37 years before 1997.
My education gave me both Western and traditional Chinese values. But there has been an interesting discussion here on whether Hong Kong is the first stop of the Olympic torch in China. Hong Kong has always had a unique place in the history of modern China - because of the British. As Hong Kong citizens, we have very mixed feelings towards our mother country and our colonial government now departed. I had my secondary education at a government school. The weekly assembly would start with "God Save the Queen". At that time we just thought of it as music. But day by day, as we grew older, something of this music and atmosphere stayed with us. I went to a school named after a former British governor of Hong Kong who really appreciated Chinese culture. For those schooled on the mainland after 1949, this traditional Chinese culture was not available because Red China was Marxist. So I learned about traditional Chinese values in a colonial government school. I think many Chinese people on the mainland are angry about the recent torch incidents. But many Hong Kong people are simply puzzled not angry. This can partly be explained by our mixed heritage. I think the torch will have a very positive reception in Hong Kong. Despite other differences there are still important common values between Hong Kong Chinese and mainland Chinese. 
Banker Joan Xia introduces her adopted city of Hong Kong and describes Hong Kong's attitude to the Olympic torch. I think people in Hong Kong are generally very excited about the Olympics. There have been rehearsals held here in preparation for its arrival. People are very happy that Beijing is hosting the Olympics. People feel more Chinese as a result and they are very proud of Beijing. Hong Kongers don't agree with involving the Olympics with other issues. People here don't like angry protests. If a protest is organised and orderly, then it's OK. Hong Kong holds a pro-democracy protest every year. I participated in last year's protest. Chinese people might think that Hong Kong people are politically cold, not very sensitive. Hong Kong people are more tolerant of different views. They are quite different from Chinese people in that respect. You see very strong reactions in mainland China about the torch relay: boycotts, flag-burning. That sort of thing doesn't happen in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a multicultural place and people from all over the world live here and say whatever they like. If they are not happy, they speak up and protest. Hong Kong's diversity can even be seen in its food. You can have whatever food you choose. It's a well-organised society, efficient.
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