On This Day | The Beatles in Hong Kong: legendary UK rock band’s visit in 1964 – from the SCMP archive
- On this day 60 years ago, the Liverpudlians touched down in Hong Kong to screaming crowds. We look back at the Post’s coverage
This article was first published on June 9, 1964
Wild welcome at Kai Tak for The Beatles
Hundreds of screaming teenagers in Hongkong yesterday gave Britain’s Beatles a wild welcome.
More than 1,000 young boys and girls waited in the rain at Kai Tak airport for the plane carrying the long-haired pop singers, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Jimmy Nichol.
Two hours before, nobody could have guessed the Beatles were coming. There were the few that had waited since early morning, but most arrived at the airport a short time before the plane was due.
As the plane approached the runway, one English girl said: “I told myself I wasn’t going to scream, but I think will.”
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.
