PRESS RELEASE
Royal Visit
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1986
BANKING ON A GOOD VIEW FOR ROYAL VISITORS
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THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WILL HAVE A PANORAMIC VIEW OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON FROM ONE OF CENTRAL'S MOST OUTSTANDING BUILDINGS - THE NEW HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK HEADQUARTERS · DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THEIR VISIT TO THE TERRITORY.
IT WILL BE A MEMORABLE OCCASION FOR A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF BANK STAFF WHO WILL BE INTRODUCED TO HER MAJESTY AND HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS DURING THE BRIEF VISIT.
A BANK SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THOSE INTRODUCED TO THE QUEEN WOULD BE A TRULY REPRESENTATIVE GROUP AND WOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO TOP MANAGEMENT STAFF.
BESIDES GIVING THE ROYAL VISITORS A VIEW OF HONG KONG FROM A VANTAGE POINT AS YET ENJOYED BY FEW PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY, THE VISIT WILL ALSO BE A RECOGNITION OF THE BIG BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO THE 47-STOREY, $5 227 MILLION BUILDING.
THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE WILL RIDE ONE OF THE TWO ESCALATORS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR PUBLIC PLAZA UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR BANKING HALL, THE ESCALATORS, AT 25 METRES, ARE THE LONGEST FREELY SUPPORTED ESCALATORS IN THE WORLD.
IN THE BANKING HALL THE ROYAL VISITORS WILL SEE THE FULL MAGNIFICENCE OF THE 52-METRE ATRIUM WHICH ARISES 11 LEVELS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR PLAZA AND GIVES THE BUILDING ITS IMPRESSIVE CATHEDRAL-LIKE ATMOSPHERE.
IT IS IN THE BANKING HALL THAT STAFF WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BANK, SIR MICHAEL SANDBERG, AND THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MR WILLIAM PURVES, THE ROYAL COUPLE WILL BE TAKEN BY LIFT TO THE 35TH FLOOR FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON.
SIR MICHAEL WILL PRESENT THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE WITH MEMENTOES OF THEIR 20-MINUTE VISIT TO HONG KONG'S MOST MODERN BUILDING.