TIMELINE: Chaos, control, on Olympic torch's global route

(Reuters) - The Olympic flame started its journey through Hong Kong on Friday, the first leg of its China tour after its controversial 20-nation world tour.

The torch relay has endured the most tortuous journey of its history, dogged by anti-China protests that in turn prompted patriotic rallies by overseas Chinese.

Here is a recap of its international voyage.

* March 24, 2008: Human rights protesters breach security to try to disrupt the torch-lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece, home of the ancient Olympics.

* March 30: Small group of Tibet activists try to stop flame entering Athens stadium for handover to Chinese officials.

* April 6: Thousands of protesters wave Tibetan flags and shout anti-China slogans as the relay passes through London. One man gets his hands on the torch before being wrestled to the ground. The torch is hurried on to a bus when about 100 protesters rush towards it.

* April 7: Paris officials extinguish the flame at least twice and carry the torch by bus when protesters try to seize it.

* April 9: San Francisco changes torch route at the last minute, wrong-footing thousands of protesters and counter-protesters lining the original planned route.

* April 17: Thousands of exiled Tibetans take part in a parallel relay, as the torch is paraded in New Delhi. Some 15,000 Indian police and guards keep watch.