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AT QUEEN'S PIER, A 21-GUN SALUTE HERALDED THE APPROACH OF THE GOVERNOR'S LAUNCH, THE LADY MAURINE, BEARING THE ROYAL PARTY ACROSS THE HARBOUR FROM KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER.
HAD THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS MOST OF THEM CHILDREN -- WAITED SEVERAL HOURS UNDER A HOT SUN FOR THE QUEEN'S ARRIVAL, AND THEY REACTED SPONTANEOUSLY WITH A LOUD CHEER AND A WAVE OF FLAGS AS THE FIRST SALVO RANG OUT.
IN THE BACKGROUND, THE FIREBOAT ALEXANDER GRANTHAM PROVIDED A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY WITH ALL ITS JETS SPRAYING PLUMES OF WATER HIGH IN THE AIR AS THE LADY MAURINE, WITH THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE ON DECK, SLOWLY APPROACHED.
LINING THE EMBANKMENT AT HMS TAMAR, NAVY PERSONNEL INCLUDING WOMEN OFFICERS -- JOINED THE CHEERING CROWDS IN EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME TO THE ROYAL COUPLE.
THE CALM WATERS OF THE HARBOUR ENABLED THE QUEEN TO STAND FIRM AND STEADY ON DECK IN ORDER TO VIEW THE SHORELINE THOUGH SHE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO GRIP THE HANDRAILS WHEN THE LADY MAURINE BUMPED SLIGHTLY AS IT CAME ALONGSIDE THE PIER.
THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE ALIGHTED FROM THE LAUNCH AMIDST WILD CHEERING AND WERE MET BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 6TH QUEEN ELIZABETH'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES, LT. COL. C.J. SCOTT, WHO ESCORTED THE QUEEN TO THE DAIS TO TAKE THE ROYAL SALUTE OF THE GUARD OF HONOUR. AFTER THE SALUTE, THE BAND OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS PLAYED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, AND THE QUEEN INSPECTED THE GUARD OF HONOUR ACCOMPANIED BY THE GUARD COMMANDER, MAJOR P.D. PETTIGREW.
THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE. ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR AND LADY MACLEHOSE. AND MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL PARTY. THEN PROCEEDED INTO THE CITY HALL FOR THE OFFICIAL WELCOMING CEREMONY, THEY WERE MET AT THE ENTRANCE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR. A. DE 0. SALES, AND MRS. SALES WHO WERE PRESENTED TO HER MAJESTY BY THE GOVERNOR.
WALKING BETWEEN A GUARD OF HONOUR COMPOSED OF SCOUTS, GUIDES, CADETS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER YOUTH ORGANISATIONS STANDING AT ATTENTION IN THE LOBBY, THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH ENTERED THE CONCERT HALL. IT WAS A BRILLIANT SCENE, WITH WOMEN'S HATS PROVIDING A VARIETY OF COLOURS.
AS THE ROYAL PARTY WALKED DOWN THE AISLE. TRUMPETERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE BAND, IN WHITE UNIFORMS AND BLACK CAPS. SOUNDED TWO FANFARES. AFTER A ROLL OF DRUMS THERE WAS A DRAMATIC SILENCE IN THE PACKED HALL EXCEPT FOR THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ROYAL PARTY ASCENDING THE STAGE. BANKS OF FLOWERS LINED THE PLATFORM, WHICH WAS COVERED WITH A RED CARPET.
AFTER THE POLICE BAND HAD PLAYED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, THE GOVERNOR WELCOMED THE QUEEN IN A BRIEF SPEECH. HE SAID THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE PROUD AND ENCOURAGED THAT SHE SHOULD NOW BE PAYING HONG KONG A VISIT, ADDING THAT IT WAS A MOMENT OF REAL HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE'.
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