Apocalypse arrives in helicopter whirlwind

WHAT splendiferous sights are afforded by the China Clipper Lounge, the plush aviator oasis just below the helipad at the Peninsula brimming with memorabilia personally collected by aero-buff Michael Kadoorie from the days when the China Clipper was plying the skies over the South China Sea.

And with reclamation work going on at a furious pace beyond, on a clear day you can see parts of Hong Kong disappear for ever.

For Felix Bieger - the Pen's ambassador at large - the helipad brought back dramatic memories of the time he opened another helipad at the Peninsula in Manila.

One day he got an urgent message from his security manager that a helicopter had landed on the helipad even though it had yet to be passed fit by the Civil Aviation authorities and granted a licence.

Rushing up in a frenzy to the helipad he encountered the sight of Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola hopping out of the chopper and striding towards him.

When Bieger inquired what was going on Coppola replied: 'I was in the helicopter, I am supposed to have lunch in your hotel and you have a helipad. So why not?' There's really no answer to that.