HONG KONG (AFP) - The favourites continued to dominate at the Hong Kong Sevens Saturday but China caused a huge upset, recovering from a first-match drubbing to shock Six Nations outfit Scotland.

China, crushed 47-0 in their first match Friday by Kenya, came from behind to win 19-12 in hot and humid conditions.

China coach Zheng Hongjun hailed the result as one of the best ever victories for his team, in their first outing of the year.

"I'm proud of the team because the older players haven't practised for long," he said, adding that most of the team was made up of new faces.

Red-hot favourites New Zealand continued their bid for a first Hong Kong Sevens title since 2001 with a 38-0 win over Tunisia, stretching their record streak of match wins in the IRB Sevens World Series to 38.

South Africa, second in the world standings, 32 points behind New Zealand, put in another powerful performance, beating Russia 48-0, with fancied Fiji beating Zimbabwe 42-14 and Samoa notching up a 36-12 win over Canada.

In the clash between rugby powerhouses Australia and France, the southern hemisphere side won 17-12.

World record sevens points scorer Ben Gollings added another 22 to his tally in England's 47-7 win over Sri Lanka.

Tonga recovered from a defeat at the hands of France in their first game to thump Hong Kong 56-5 in Saturday's opening game.

New Zealand's dominance on the sevens circuit this season means a tournament win here would all but wrap up their eighth series title in nine years.

New Zealand have swept all before them this season, winning in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand and the United States and they sit atop the IRB Sevens World Series with a maximum 80 points.

Pool games continue on Saturday before the tournament, the fifth leg of the world series, concludes on Sunday.