Many people waved Chinese flags and cheered, significantly outnumbering small groups of protesters holding pro-Tibet or pro-democracy placards.
About 3,000 police are on duty for the eight-hour parade, the first stop on the torch's journey through China.
Ahead of the relay, the authorities denied access to several activists intending to protest.
Freedom of speech is protected in the territory by the Basic Law - the mini-constitution agreed before the end of British rule in 1997.
That, says the BBC's Vaudine England, has put Hong Kong officials in a bind: they are required to allow for protests, yet are also under a heavy obligation to Beijing to ensure a smooth event.
Demonstrations over China's human rights record have dogged international legs of the relay - sparking anger in China and galvanising popular support for the Beijing Olympics.
Red pride
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang kicked off the relay at a ceremony by the harbour.
"We are a world in a city, where different people with different beliefs and different views have thrived in a spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect," he said.
Hong Kong Olympic torch relay
The torch would blaze "a trail of unity and peace" as it passed through China in the coming months, he said.
Thousands of Hong Kong citizens and visitors from the mainland started lining the relay route on Friday morning, as a light rain fell.
People were being encouraged to wear red to show their support for the torch and for China.
About 3,000 police are on duty for the eight-hour parade, the first stop on the torch's journey through China.
Ahead of the relay, the authorities denied access to several activists intending to protest.
Freedom of speech is protected in the territory by the Basic Law - the mini-constitution agreed before the end of British rule in 1997.
That, says the BBC's Vaudine England, has put Hong Kong officials in a bind: they are required to allow for protests, yet are also under a heavy obligation to Beijing to ensure a smooth event.
Demonstrations over China's human rights record have dogged international legs of the relay - sparking anger in China and galvanising popular support for the Beijing Olympics.
Red pride
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang kicked off the relay at a ceremony by the harbour.
"We are a world in a city, where different people with different beliefs and different views have thrived in a spirit of diversity, tolerance and respect," he said.
Hong Kong Olympic torch relay
The torch would blaze "a trail of unity and peace" as it passed through China in the coming months, he said.
Thousands of Hong Kong citizens and visitors from the mainland started lining the relay route on Friday morning, as a light rain fell.
People were being encouraged to wear red to show their support for the torch and for China.
Fu Qiang, a mainland student from Xi'an, held a banner calling on China to unite and support the president, Hu Jintao.
"I am here because I think politics should be kept out of sport," the 19-year-old said.
But 20-year-old Lo Waiyin, a Hong Kong student, was harangued by pro-China supporters for bringing a banner that read "Promote Freedom of Speech".
"They say I shouldn't be protesting because I am being disrespectful to China," he said.
"I am here because I think politics should be kept out of sport," the 19-year-old said.
But 20-year-old Lo Waiyin, a Hong Kong student, was harangued by pro-China supporters for bringing a banner that read "Promote Freedom of Speech".
"They say I shouldn't be protesting because I am being disrespectful to China," he said.
There were some reports of confrontations and scuffles between pro-China supporters and protesters, but the early stages of the relay appeared to have passed off smoothly.
After Hong Kong, the torch will go to Macau and then begin its journey through more than 100 towns and cities in China on its way to the Olympic stadium in Beijing.
Protesters see the parade in Hong Kong as the last chance to put pressure on China over its human rights record.
But in the last few days, at least seven activists have been denied entry to Hong Kong, prompting protests from western diplomats.
Three members of the Students for a Free Tibet campaign told journalists they had been put on a flight from Hong Kong earlier this week.
Actress and campaigner Mia Farrow was allowed in, however. She is due to give a speech critical of China's ties with Sudan later today.
After Hong Kong, the torch will go to Macau and then begin its journey through more than 100 towns and cities in China on its way to the Olympic stadium in Beijing.
Protesters see the parade in Hong Kong as the last chance to put pressure on China over its human rights record.
But in the last few days, at least seven activists have been denied entry to Hong Kong, prompting protests from western diplomats.
Three members of the Students for a Free Tibet campaign told journalists they had been put on a flight from Hong Kong earlier this week.
Actress and campaigner Mia Farrow was allowed in, however. She is due to give a speech critical of China's ties with Sudan later today.
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