A Chinese girl, asked if she too was going to scream, replied: “Of course.”
And scream they did. As the four young Liverpudlians stepped from the aircraft, an enormous cry went up from the airport’s observation platform as the teenagers strained over tops of heads in front of them to see their singing idols.
Then they rushed in a wave from point to point to catch a glimpse of the Beatles as they walked to their transport.
Police Stand By
Just in case the fans got out of hand, 13 police vehicles stood by at the edge of the tarmac. But one police officer said it was a good crowd and gave the authorities no trouble.
Among the more dedicated Beatles fans were two young Chinese girls who had spent all day Sunday at the airport and would have stayed overnight to get a good welcoming position had their parents not taken them home at nightfall. They were among the first on the spot yesterday.
Three English girls were the first at the airport yesterday. They arrived at 9.20am completed with sashes on which were inscribed the names of the Beatles.
The fans milled about the terminal concourse even after the loudspeaker had announced that the Beatles had left for the city.
Britain’s top “pop” group left their mark on Hong Kong traffic, too.
Roads leading from the airport were clogged with city-bound traffic crawling at a snail’s pace.
Press Conference
Then came the press conference at the President Hotel and more chaos. The Beatles had to push their way through more screaming teenagers to get to the conference room to face scores of jostling photographers and reporters, all shouting at once.
As the pressmen pushed in upon him, John Lennon yelled: “Everybody from the press here?”
Jimmy Nichol, the young drummer replacing the ailing Ringo Starr, said it was a most exciting experience to be thrust so quickly into the bustling limelight In which the Beatles moved.
When Ringo rejoins the group in Australia, Jimmy will return to England and some television appearances.
Question: Why did you call yourselves The Beatles?
Paul McCartney: We thought it was a good name–at the time.
Q: How do you get time to rehearse?
George Harrison: We don’t.
Q: What do you think of the “Mods” and the “Rockers”?
Lennon: Good publicity, aren’t they?
Q: Would you like to go to China?
McCartney: I thought this was China.
Lennon: I could have sworn…
Harrison: We got on the wrong plane.
Q: Are you going to do any shopping in Hong Kong?
McCartney: Yes.
Q: How often do you have a haircut?
Harrison: It all depends. Usually once in a blue moon.
Q: We heard that you were bringing your mothers on this trip.
Harrison: We heard that too.
McCartney: No, they’re not here.
Q: Which of your records do you like best?
Lennon: Our latest one, “Long Tall Sally.”
Looking tired and drawn after the long trip, the Beatles seemed pleased when the questioning was over.
A British journalist travelling with them said the boys were amazed with their receptions along the way. Teenagers fought with police in Beirut, crowds of girls were waiting when their plane touched down at dawn in Calcutta and there were also crowds to greet them at Bangkok.
The journalist said it had come as a surprise to the Beatles that their appeal was so international.
Two of the Beatles, Lennon and Nichol, made a brief appearance at the ‘Miss Hong Kong’ semi-final at the President Hotel last night.
The two spoke to the large audience briefly, then shook hands with all the beauty contestants.
The two other Beatles, McCartney and Harrison, did not appear as they were resting after their long journey.
Promoters of the concert tonight at the Princess Theatre report that there are still some $75 seats available.
