"In front of City Hall. This is not China," adds ... An analysis of these photos shows the Chinese characters on the flags in ...

Thousands of flags had already been packed for shipping ... It will then travel to a series of cities in mainland China before reaching Beijing for the start of the Olympic Games in August.

Flags will be lowered at government offices, including in the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macao and at Chinese consulates and embassies around the world, Xinhua said.