1964-65 New York World's Fair Groundbreaking and Dedication Booklets

MARCH 14, 1963

HONG KONG

RC

ROOF RAISING CEREMONIES AT THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR

Following is a transcription of remarks by Hong
Kong Pavilion and World's Fair officials at the
Hong Kong Pavilion roof raising ceremony,
New York World's Fair, Thursday, March 14,
1963.

AMBASSADOR RICHARD C. PATTERSON, JR.
[Chief of Protocol] : Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs.
Humes, Governor Poletti, and distinguished guests. Hav-
ing lived in China for nearly three years, I can tell you
that we meet here today under a magic name — that of
Hong Kong. It would be hard to imagine any place in the

world which conjures up so much romance, such amazing
commercial development, or such a center of tourism.
This exhibit will be a symbol of the glamour, the wonder,
the beauty and the mystery of Hong Kong.

And I have the honor, ladies and gentlemen, to present
to you a man who is the Fair, who is its prophet, and who
for long years has held a high place in the hearts of all
New Yorkers ; the former governor of our state — the
Honorable Charles Poletti.

GOVERNOR CHARLES POLETTI: Thank you very
much. Ambassador Patterson, thank you very much for
your gracious remarks. Mr. and Mrs. Humes, and friends
of the Hong Kong Pavilion. We at the World's Fair are
of course much delighted that we are going to have a

Cover: The Hong Kong Pavilion, depicted here by Dong Kingman, will be a charming blend of modern design and traditional
Chinese architecture. Designed by Eldredge Snyder, the building will feature upswept eaves, intense colors, intricate carvings
and gilded surfaces. Inside, the pavilion will reflect all of the fascination of Hong Kong's finest shopping centers, and will include
a Chinese restaurant and the Bar of the Dragons. The contractor is E. W. Howell.

1963 New York World's Fair 1964-1965 Corporation

Governor Charles Poletti presents Fair medallion to John Humes, president of Hong Kong Trading Company. In background are
Douglas Beaton, the Fair's International official responsible for negotiating the Hong Kong contract and Mrs. John Humes.

Hong Kong Pavilion. We are exuberantly delighted that
we have it so far advanced, with all the steel work set up,
so that I think while we witness this steel frame we
should, each of us, commend John Humes for his fore-
sight and his aggressive spirit in getting the job so far
advanced this early in 1963.

I want in this connection also to say a word of praise
for the construction firm, E. W. Howell. We appreciate
the splendid contribution that this firm has made. In con-
nection with this pavilion, I am reminded of the trip Mrs.
Poletti and I took to Hong Kong and that in turn brings
vividly to mind a young fellow called Johnny Kao.
Johnny is the energetic, dynamic and imaginative presi-
dent of the Hong Kong Trading Company, Inc., which is
sponsoring this pavilion. He has been working closely
with Mr. John Humes. On this occasion I think it ap-
propriate that while Johnny is far away in Hong Kong
we nonetheless want to pay our respects to him and thank
him for his assistance and cooperation.

Hong Kong is doing mighty well without this pavilion.
I was reading in the Wall Street Journal this morning
that the number of tourists that are visiting Hong Kong
has increased greatly in the past two years. Just imagine
what is going to happen after seventy million people come
to the World"s Fair in 1964 and 1965 and see this
astounding pavilion representing the spirit, charm and
glamour of Hong Kong. John, you'd better tell your
friends back there to put up a couple more hotels to take
care of the millions of Americans that undoubtedly will
want to visit Hong Kong.

We are also pleased to have a Hong Kong Pavilion
because all of us who are devoted to the way of life
exemplified in the free world, necessarily must think of
Hong Kong as an outpost of freedom — near a vast
country where freedom has been destroyed. And we hope
that the torch of freedom that is now burning brightly
in Hong Kong will someday be extended to cover that
vast mass of the mainland and the 700 million people

who so ruthlessly have been deprived of freedom.

In closing I want to present to John Humes on behalf
of the president of the New York World's Fair, Mr.
Robert Moses, and the Executive Committee of the
World's Fair, a medal which has on it the Unisphere
and on the other side, the seal of the City of New York,
because as you know this Fair does commemorate the
300th anniversary of the founding of New York as a
city. So John, if you'll step up here I'd like to present this
to you, and also shake your hand and congratulate you
and wish you well. And the same congratulations and
good wishes are extended to your charming wife, Mrs.
Humes.

JOHN HUMES: Thank you very much Governor.

Governor Poletti and John Humes point with pride to the
well-advanced steel framework for the Hong Kong Pavilion.
Completion of the exhibit is scheduled for September of
this year.

AMBASSADOR PATTERSON: Thank you Gover-
nor Poletti. Now John Humes who has just been presented
to you by the Governor is, as you know, the chairman of
the Hong Kong Trading Corporation. He's a philanthro-
pist and a good citizen. He is a civic worker who has done
a great deal for the City of New York, and we are proud
to have him associated with this World's Fair. I'd like to
present for a bow the charming and talented wife of John
Humes, who had so much to do toward getting this
building started.

JOHN HUMES: Thank you very much, Ambassador
Patterson. I should like to reciprocate in presenting Gov-
ernor Poletti a little token of the handicraft and the skills
of the people of Hong Kong — a small teak and jade
cigarette box.

GOVERNOR POLETTI: Thank you very much. I'm
very grateful.

JOHN HUMES: This is a very happy day for all of
us who are connected with the Hong Kong Pavilion at
the World's Fair. We are celebrating here today the roof
raising of this pavilion, rather than the groundbreaking,
because fortunately it has proceeded so well under the
able direction of the E. W. Howell people. Shortly we
hope to set off some firecrackers — the traditional way of
celebrating things in Hong Kong and in China. It is our
hope that after this building has been completed and the
exotic Oriental restaurant and bar have been decorated,
there will be many more occasions when it properly can
be said that this roof will be raised.

Those of us who have sponsored the pavilion have been
very fortunate in securing the exceptional talents of Mr.
Eldredge Snyder, our architect; in consultation with the
distinguished internationally renowned artist, Mr. Dong
Kingman, Mr. Snyder has designed a spectacular and eye-
catching building which we hope will be one of the
brightest stars in the lovely firmament of this Fair. I

6

should also like to mention with sincerest thanks, our
deep appreciation to Governor Poletti, and all of the
members of the World's Fair staff and particularly Mr.
Douglas Beaton, for the wonderful cooperation and
efficiency which has marked all of our relations with them.
It is perhaps appropriate to mention that one of the
finest restaurants in Hong Kong has signed up with our
company to operate the restaurant and the bar in this
building. Among those in Hong Kong who have leased
space in the pavilion, is an outstanding tailoring concern
from the Crown Colony, and many other leading mer-
chants and manufacturers. We have every expectation that
this pavilion will accurately reflect all of the glamour and
fascination and the multiple trades and crafts of the great
Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Thank you very much.

NEW YORK

UNISPHERE

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HONG KONG PAVILION

HONG KONG TRADING COMPANY, INC.
JOHN P. HUMES, Chairman of the Board
JOHN C. Y. KAO, President

WORLD'S FAIR 1964-1965 CORPORATION
Flushing 52, N. Y. Tel. 212-WF 4-1964

ROBERT MOSES, President

THOMAS J. DEEGAN, JR., Chairman of the Executive Committee

WILLIAM E. POTTER, Executive Vice President

CHARLES POLETTI, V/ce President, International Affairs and Exhibits

STUART CONSTABLE, Vice President, Operations

WILLIAM A. BERNS, Vice President, Communications and Public Relations

ERWIN WITT, Comptroller

MARTIN STONE, Director of Industrial Section

GUY F. TOZZOLI, (Port of New York Authority) Transportation Section

ERNESTINE R. HAIG, Secretary of the Corporation and
Assistant to the President

WILLIAM WHIPPLE, JR., Chief Engineer