As the Olympic flame swept through the streets of Hong Kong, Wai Fong stood out in the crowd.

Instead of the celebratory red of the thousands of Chinese spectators around her, she wore a blue “Free Tibet” T-shirt showing the Dalai Lama breaking free of his chains.

“I don’t understand it,” the 33-year-old English teacher said. “I was expecting more activity, more focus on China’s record of human rights. But it feels like I’m the only one here.”

When the Olympic torch arrived in Chinese territory Friday, thousands of flag-waving fans drowned out the demonstrators and roared their approval at the sight of the flame.

It was a markedly different atmosphere from other stops on its troubled international tour, marred by rioting in Tibet and anti-China protests.

Some torch supporters threw eggs and shouted insults at scattered groups of protesters, frequently in Mandarin rather than the local Cantonese dialect. Many held up homemade signs in English and Chinese that said “Tibet is a part of China.”

“Politics have no place in the Olympic games,” said Nicholas Chan, a 35-year-old civil servant from Hong Kong. “Can you imagine if the Chinese demanded independence for Scotland before the London Olympics? It’s nonsense.”

In Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district, police shielded university student Christina Chan from China supporters after she wrapped herself in a Tibetan flag. According to witnesses, she was wrestled to the ground after she attempted to wave or unfurl the flag. Officers then escorted Chan to a police van against her will — for her own safety, they said.

Hundreds more police and multiple barriers kept spectators at a distance throughout the relay. Among the uniformed personnel were casually dressed negotiators, whose job it was to avoid confrontations between China supporters and protest groups. No major incidents were reported.

The most enthusiastic supporters of the event were busloads of students from mainland China, many of whom seemed to be more concerned with national pride than the Olympics. Well-organized and determined to show support for their home country, they wore red T-shirts that said “I love China” and draped themselves in Chinese flags.

There has been a resurgence of nationalism among Chinese youth, in part because of state-controlled media and perceived slights on China’s reputation during the London and Paris legs of the relay.

“I am proud to be Chinese,” said one mainland student. “Everyone should wear red and support today’s event.”

Even the vehicles of Chinese corporate sponsors such as Lenovo received raucous applause, with shouts of “Ga Yao, Ga Yao!” — You can do it! — heard throughout the day.

Hong Kong officials were under pressure to ensure a trouble-free event for the torch’s first stop on a three-month trip through China.

The government denied entry to three Danish human rights activists and deported at least seven more. Immigration officials briefly questioned actress Mia Farrow, who went to Hong Kong to raise awareness about the crisis in Sudan, before allowing her into the city.