Revisit the South China Morning Post’s coverage of some of the biggest names in show business and royalty to visit Hong Kong. From Pope Paul VI’s historic but short visit in 1970 to Janet Jackson’s electrifying Rhythm Nation tour in 1990 and Prince Charles’ four-day trip in 1979, the Post was there to cover them all.

In 1970, the Pope’s visit marked a memorable day for the local Catholic community and saw him deliver an open-air Mass at Government Stadium. He left a lasting impression on the city despite the fact he was only here for three hours.

In March 1979, Prince Charles arrived at Kai Tak airport for a visit to Hong Kong that involved meeting Governor Sir Murray MacLehose, visiting the 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles and a trip to a toy-car factory in Kowloon. Despite the official nature of his visit, media attention amusingly focused on his hair, noting a certain resemblance to his father’s.

In 1966, Hollywood superstar Steve McQueen arrived in Hong Kong to film sea battle scenes for his movie The Sand Pebbles. At a press conference, McQueen admitted that he found Taiwan, their previous location stop, “very trying” and his wife Neile Adams revealed that he was “terribly moody”.