Governor's Visits

Since the 3rd Exhibition of Chinese Products (1940), the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA) began to invite the Governor of Hong Kong to visit the exhibition. Sir Geoffry Northcote was the first governor paying such visits. He attended the opening ceremony of the 3rd Exhibition and visited the exhibition booths.

When the Governor and his wife attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition, they would be greeted by the Chairman of CMA and the other senior officials at the exhibition entrance. The Governor and his wife would also receive the Guests of Honour badges from the Chairman. The Governor would then give an opening speech about the developments and future prospects of manufacturing industries in Hong Kong. After the ceremony, the Governor would tour around the exhibition venue accompanied by CMA officials. Visits of the Governors always attracted a lot of attention from the ordinary spectators. The Boy Scouts and Girl Guides were also present to the maintain order at the venue. In the 1960s, there was an interesting story about a Boy Scout who stopped the Governor’s car from coming near the exhibition venue. According to Mr. Fung Yuen Hon, General Committee Member of CMA, the story went like this: In the past when traffic facilities were very inadequate, Boy Scouts were usually asked to stand near the exhibition venue to direct traffic. One day, as one of the Boy Scouts was directing traffic, he stopped the Governor’s car from moving forward. The Governor did not blame the boy. Instead he praised him of being a responsible person who was honestly committed to carrying out his duties.