TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1986
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A MOVING FAREWELL TO SIR EDWARD
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HONG KONG THE PLACE HE HAD COME TO KNOW AND LOVE - TODAY (TUESDAY) MOURNED THE LOSS OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE, ITS 26TH GOVERNOR.
WITH MILITARY PRECISION BEFITTING THE SAD OCCASION, TEN GUARDSMEN OF THE FIRST BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS BORE HIS BODY OUT OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT PRECISELY 10.30 AM FOR THE SOLEMN JOURNEY TO ST JOHN'S CATHEDRAL,
MINUTES BEFORE, HELICOPTERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, ROYAL AIR FORCE AND THE ARMY AIR CORPS FLEW PAST IN FINAL TRIBUTE.
AS THE COFFIN DRAPED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S FLAG WAS LOWERED ONTO A CARRIAGE ON THE GROUNDS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE, THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT'S GUARD OF HONOUR PRESENTED ARMS AND THE REGIMENTAL BAND STRUCK THE FIRST SIX BARS OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
IN THE DISTANCE COULD BE HEARD THE FIRST SALVO OF A 17-GUN SALUTE FIRED AT HMS TAMAR AT ONE-MINUTE INTERVALS. AS THE CEREMONIAL FUNERAL PROCESSION BEGAN ITS SLOW MARCH DOWN UPPER ALBERT ROAD, THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND STRUCK UP MOVING STRAINS FROM BEETHOVEN, HANDEL AND OTHER FUNERAL MARCHES.
MORE THAN A THOUSAND POLICE OFFICERS STOOD TO ATTENTION ALONG THE TREE-LINED, 600-METRE ROUTE, THAT LED FROM THE QUIET SOLITUDE OF UPPER ALBERT ROAD BEFORE TURNING AT LOWER ALBERT ROAD FOR THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES CARPARK AND THE SLIP ROAD TO THE CATHEDRAL.
LEADING THE PROCESSION WAS A DETACHMENT OF ABOUT 500 MEN FROM THE ROYAL NAVY, THE ROYAL MARINES, THE 1ST BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS, THE 1ST BATTALION 2ND KING EDWARD VIL'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES, THE 10TH PRINCESS MARY'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES AND THE BAND OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE. COMMANDING THE MILITARY DETACHMENT WAS THE COMMANDER, GURKHA FIELD FORCE, BRIGADIER RAY PETT.
BEHIND THEM CAME THE CARRIAGE, FLANKED BY 16 PALL-BEARERS AND THE TEN COFFIN BEARERS.
THE 16 PALL-BEARERS WERE THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS: THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCE, MAJOR GENERAL ANTHONY BOAM: THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS SIR S.Y. CHUNG MR OSWALD CHEUNG SIR MICHAEL SANDBERG; MR Q.W. LEE: MR $.L. CHEN: THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR ERIC HO: THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO; MR ALLEN LEE MR PETER C. WONG: DR CHIU HIN-KWONG DR DANIEL TSE: AND SIR ROGER LOBO.
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