Fans mob birthday-boy Lin in Hong Kong

The 24-year-old son of Taiwanese parents told reporters that he was enjoying the city but had been unable to visit all the sights because of a "bit of paparazzi issue", amid huge popular excitement over his visit.

"It's a beautiful city. I like it a lot," he said.

Lin is in the former British colony to launch a basketball charity for poor children and share his Christian faith at a church service that is expected to attract thousands of believers on Sunday.

Organisers said over 11,000 tickets to attend the service at the Asia World Expo had been snapped up, and it will be simultaneously broadcast at 10 churches around Hong Kong.

Lin is expected to talk about how his faith helped him to overcome challenges in life.

Lin shot to stardom last season with the New York Knicks, dazzling fans with his clutch shooting and passing skills.

Last month, he signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Houston Rockets.

"We are going to be young, we are going to be inexperienced," he said of his new team.

"We have a chance to build a new team, to build a new culture and to start from the ground."