Crowds gathered inside and outside Government House yesterday as recipients arrived to receive the final British honours and hundreds of passers-by posed for photos at the Crown-adorned entrance gates.
In the Government House ballroom, the Prince of Wales, in navy whites and gold captain's braiding, chatted briefly with each of the more than 150 Queen's Birthday Honours recipients.
A police orchestra played My Way, Yesterday, Stranger in Paradise, and Somewhere over the Rainbow, a relaxed and smiling prince presented each of the recipients with their award, including the newly knighted Financial Secretary, Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.
Sir Donald was knighted along with tycoon Gordon Wu Ying-sheung and veteran executive councillor Jimmy McGregor.
Billionaire Mr Wu said he would wear his insignia as a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George after the Chinese takeover and definitely wants to be addressed by his new British title, 'Sir Gordon'.
'The prince asked me, 'Will you still wear it?' I said sure, of course I will.
'I earned it . . . I intend to keep it.' Sir Donald said his new boss, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, would decide whether he can wear the decoration and use the title.
