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GREETINGS ON THE PIER STEPS MAY HAVE BEEN FORMAL, BUT NOT SO THOSE OF THE CHEERING CROWD, MADE UP OF LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS FROM MANY COUNTRIES, WHO LINED EDINBURGH PLACE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE.
THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES PRESENTED THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 6TH QUEEN ELIZABETH'S OWN GURKHA RIFLES, LIEUTENANT COLONEL J. A. ANDERSON, AND THEN ESCORTED HER MAJESTY TO THE SALUTING DAIS WHERE A GUARD OF HONOUR, MOUNTED BY THE REGIMENT GAVE A ROYAL SALUTE, WHILE THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE BAND PLAYED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
AS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEGAN, THE ROYAL STANDARD, FLOWN ONLY WHEN THE QUEEN IS PRESENT, WAS BROKEN FROM THE FLAGSTAFF IN FRONT OF CITY HALL, THE GUARD COMMANDER, MAJOR GOPALBAHADUR GURUNG, REPORTED TO THE QUEEN WHO, ACCOMPANIED BY MAJOR GENERAL BOAM, INSPECTED THE GUARD AND THEN WALKED INTO CITY HALL FOR A FORMAL WELCOMING CEREMONY. CROWDS IN EDINBURGH PLACE CHEERED HER MAJESTY AS SHE ENTERED THE BUILDING.
IT WAS A COLOURFUL BUT BRIEF CEREMONY, LASTING ONLY FIVE MINUTES FROM THE TIME THE QUEEN STEPPED ASHORE TO THE TIME SHE WENT INTO CITY HALL, BUT FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AROUND EDINBURGH PLACE IT PROVIDED A LASTING MEMORY OF THE TIME THEY SAW THE QUEEN.
IN EXTENDING A SINCERE AND LOYAL WELCOME TO THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THAT MUCH HAD CHANGED IN HONG KONG SINCE THE LAST ROYAL VISIT 11 YEARS AGO.
+THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE URBAN AREAS, THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN OUR SKYLINE, AND THE GROWTH OF THE TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE HIGHLY VISIBLE TO YOUR MAJESTY IN THE COURSE OF YOUR VISIT,+
HE SAID.
+ BEHIND THIS IMPOSING FACADE LIES A LESS VISIBLE, BUT NO LESS DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHO ENJOY BETTER HOUSING, BETTER EDUCATION, BETTER MEDICAL ATTENTION AND A RICHER LEISURE AND CULTURAL LIFE.
+ IT IS A FEATURE OF HONG KONG THAT GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS, ALL COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF OUR CITIZENS AND TO ASSIST THE LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
+DURING THE NEXT TWO DAYS YOUR MAJESTY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW FAR HONG KONG HAS PROGRESSED IN THOSE 11 YEARS, AND HOW IT HAS TAKEN ITS PLACE IN THE WORLD AS A THRIVING, MODERN, CITY WITH WIDE-RANGING ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND SPORTING CONTACTS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
+ BUT WORK AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS ARE NOT EVERYTHING, AND IN THE COURSE OF YOUR VISIT WE HOPE, TOO, THAT YOU WILL MEET ONCE AGAIN MANY OF OUR PROUD AND HARD-WORKING PEOPLE, AS YOU DID ON YOUR PREVIOUS VISIT.+
/ALSO WELCOMING
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