The torch relay for the 2006 Doha Asian Games will be held on Friday and 23 top athletes will take part in the event, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong announced yesterday.

The torch, currently in Guangzhou, will arrive at Macao today before coming to Hong Kong. The torch will then be taken to Jakarta on Saturday.

The Hong Kong relay, lasting 4.5 kilometres, will pass through city landmarks, including the Cultural Centre and the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The torch relay will start from the UC Centenary Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui and end at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.

Asian Championship Masters gold medallist bowler Wu Siu-hong will be the first torchbearer while Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak, who won a silver medal in table tennis in 2004 Olympic Games, will complete the relay.

Swimmer Sze Hang-yu, holder of nine swimming records in Hong Kong, will travel across the harbour via Tin Hau vessel, which is only used by chief executive and government officials.

This is the first appearance of the Flame of the Asian Games in Hong Kong.

The torch relay began on October 8 in Doha, Qatar and would pass through other cities, such as Esfahan, Teheran, Salalah, Muscat, Abu Dhabi before going back to Doha, the host city on November 25.

Some 3,000 torch bearers were involved in the relay.

Some 2,500 primary and secondary students would welcome the athletes in the Golden Bauhinia Square.

The relay event co-ordinator Kenny Chow said 40 tertiary institutions students were invited to accompany the athletes, and adequate security measures would be adopted to ensure the smooth running of the event.

The Asian Games, in which 45 countries/regions are taking part, will be held in Doha from December 1 to 15.