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On December 9, 2020, Marine Region held an Unveiling Ceremony for Marine Region’s Noonday Gun, marking the accomplishment of its preservation programme.
The gun, a Hotchkiss Mark I six-pound quick-firing naval gun, was originally made in 1915 and fitted to HMS President, a ship disguised as a merchant vessel used to hunt German U-boats. After the Second World War, it was used to fire the noonday signal in Causeway Bay from 1947 until 1961 when following noise complaints, an agreement was then made by the Police Headquarters and the Jardine Matheson & Co. Ltd for it to be swapped for the former gun of Police Launch 4, a Hotchkiss Mark I three-pound quick-firing naval gun which had sunk after the launch struck a mine in July 1946 with the loss of seven crew members.
The guest of honour at the ceremony was Director of Personnel and Training Li Kin-fai, who was accompanied by Marine Regional Commander David Jordan, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum Mr Richard Wesley and a representative of the conservation company. During the ceremony, Mr Jordan on behalf of all officers of Marine Region thanked Mr Li who had rendered tremendous support for the preservation programme as the Chairman of the Police Museum Advisory Committee. He further stressed the importance of conserving the history of the Force in order to mark the sacrifices made by its officers in the execution of their duty. He also thanked the Hong Kong Maritime Museum for its support and looked forward to further engagement with the museum to preserve the maritime history of Hong Kong.
