Monday, May 5, 1975
25
THOUSANDS WATCH FIREWORKS DISPLAY
As dusk settled this evening over Hong Kong and Kowloon, and
the first lights began to shine from offices, hotels, flats, liners,
Junks and sampans, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had supper on
board the frigate H.M.S. Chichester in Victoria Harbour, named after her
great-great-grandmother.
They arrived on board from H.M.S. Tamar, the shore station on
Hong Kong Island, and were received by the Commodore-in-Charge Hong Kong,
Commodore John Evans, who presented the Chichester's Captain, Commander
Rodney Warwick,
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During dinner, the Royal party watched a 25-minute firework displey,
fired from pontoons in mid-harbour between Hung Hom and the Royal Hong Kong
Yacht Club.
The fireworks were of such brilliance that it seemed as if all the
lights of Hong Kong and Kowloon had become detached from their moorings to shoot
into the air. They were donated by an anonymous donor, and Brock's the firework
company isn't saying who.
In all, there were over 2,200 fireworks, consisting of 260 rockets and 960 roman candles, 10 aerial signal maroons, 150 mines and 851 shells. Exploding at heights of 500 feet and more, they drew oohs' and 'ahs' from crowds at special vantage points on reclaimed land both sides of the harbour, and wore easily visible from the hillsides of Hong Kong.
Their names, many associated with jewels, were equally attractive, and
included Coronets of Sapphires, Jade and Rubies, a Shower of Molten Gems, Clusters
of Topaze and Amber, Jewelled Sprays of Silver Fire, a Shower of Lapus Lazuli
and Cornelians, Craters of Diamond Dust, Imperial Gems and Jewelled Parasols.
Those named