XN000022-1975-04-25 — Page 10

ROYAL VISIT

PRESS

RELEASE

Friday, April 25, 1975

QUEEN FOR AN HOUR

"Marvellous Experience" Says Executive Officer Pauline Wong

Pauline Wong, 25, had the most unusual experience of her life

on Wednesday, April 23, when she stood in for the Queen at a rehearsal

of the harbour crossing and arrival ceremonies at Queen's Pier.

"I enjoyed every minute of it, because, like everyone else, I

an looking forward to the Royal visit, and it was absolutely marvellous

having such a role to play in the rehearsals now going on," Miss Wong

said.

She was particularly excited at being able to chat informally

with the Governor and Lady MacLehose on occasions in the last few days

when she had met them on "dry runs,"

"The Governor wanted everything to be perfect. Every official

concerned wanted the same thing, but the Governor went out of his way

to assure me that all I needed to do was to behave naturally. He was

gentle and very kind," she recalled.

This enabled her to be at ease when the Governor's yacht, The

Lady Maurine, berthed, and Sir Murray suggested that she go before him

while walking up the steps leading to Queen's Pier.

There she found herself the focal point of a battery of cameras,

and when she mounted the saluting dais a guard of honour, found by the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles, gave a royal salute.

"At the beginning

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