Exquisite displays trace Marine Police's evolution
The Marine Police's developments since its early days are well documented at the headquarters with models of early and modern police launches, photos, paintings and drawing of police launches, relics from old police launches, records of commissionings and descriptions of interesting Marine police cases. This is the result of the efforts made by the Officers' Mess Committee before and after the Headquarters moved to its present site from Tsim Sha Tsui in 1996.
Said a member of the committee, Chief Inspector Mark Steeple: "Members of the committee have spent a lot of their spare time in sorting out and retouching many old and new records and models, and in having them properly set up on display so as to shed light on the evolution of the Marine Police."
What will catch the attention of a visitor to the Headquarters is an impressive display of 17 models of mostly contemporary police launches and speedboats, which are displayed on the grand staircase. A lot of effort has gone into refurbishing and repainting the models, amongst which the notable ones are those of PL 51 and of what is believed to be the earliest police launch, a rowing/sailing boat.
Elsewhere in the Headquarters, displays are located in the Officers' Mess and corridors. The corridor displays include photos of commissioning ceremonies of police launches, visits by members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries. A set of 18 photos showing old and new fishing vessels in Hong Kong was presented to the Region by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Floating Fishermen Welfare Promotion Association.
Among the displays in the Officers' Mess are photographs of the four generations of Police Launch 4 before and after World War II, a collection of drawings of police launches from 1980 to 1995 by amateur artist Roger Draper, a former broadcaster with RTHK, and a telegraph and bells from old police launches. One of the bells came from the 1936 Police Launch 1, which was seized and used as a gunboat by the Japanese during the occupation of Hong Kong. The bell from PL 1 was recovered in Canton after the War.
The Officers' Mess Committee is endeavouring to enrich the present collection of displays, and would welcome help from serving or retired Mariners who may have interesting items tucked away in their homes.
"We're working on photos of all Marine outlying stations, posts and bases. We're also interested in helping the Government with its plan to establish a Maritime Museum; so we hope that people will come forward and give us a hand!" said Mr Steeple.
Those who have any old photos, records, documents or anything of interest may contact Mr Steeple on 2803-6197.
CIP Steeple shows the model of what is believed to be the earliest police launch
The four generations of Police Launch 4 before and after the World War II
Part of the impressive exhibits on the grand staircase at Marine Headquarters
PL 21 of 1950s which was sold and converted to a pleasure craft
Model of the "Keka" class PL60
The bell from PL 1 recovered in Canton after the War