There were four reasons this journey:
The first was to raise money for the building to house the East Asian History of Science Library and for an endowment to pay ongoing costs.
The second was for Joseph Needham to receive an Honorary Degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 17 Oct.
The third was for Joseph Needham to give the first East Asian History of Science Foundation Lecture at the Hong Kong University on 20 Oct.
The fourth was to give the Second Annual Bochner Lecture at Scientia (an institute for the history of science and culture founded by Salomon Bochner) on 27 Oct. at Rice University, Houston, Texas
A visit to Los Angeles was scheduled for 22 Oct. - 25 Oct. but it was cancelled.
Lu Gwei-Djen accompanied Joseph Needham on this journey.

The itinerary was:
Singapore 4 Oct. - 10 Oct.
Hong Kong 10 Oct. - 22 Oct.
Houston 22 Oct. - 29 Oct.
New York City 29 Oct. - 8 Nov.
Scarsdale 8 Nov. - 11 Nov.
London 11 Nov.