Also taking part in the concert were the bands from the New York City Police, Paris Metropolitan Police, Seoul Metropolitan Police, Chinese Capital Police, and Tokyo Metropolitan Police.

The concert was preceded in two days by a parade at the Avenue of Stars and a mini-concert outside the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui in the afternoon, as well as a welcoming reception by the organiser for the police bands at Police Officers' Club in the evening.

The World Police Band Concert is organised by the Japanese Mainichi Newspaper with assistance by commercial and transport companies, airlines and hotels, with the aim of developing a solid relationship amongst police communities that are facing various crimes every day. The organiser believes that through a music exchange programme, the objective of the concert can be achieved in the quickest manner.

So far, the World Police Band Concert has been held in nine countries and 15 cities.

The first World Police Band Concert was held in Tokyo in 1996, featuring the police bands from Britain, France, Spain, South Korea, Australia and Japan. After that, more concerts were held in Paris, Madrid, Seoul, Berlin, New York, and Los Angeles.

Writing in a commemorative book for the concert, the Chairman of the World Police Bands Concerts Committee and President of the Mainichi Newspapers, Mr Masato Kitamura, said the event would show the importance of world peace and safety.

"The HKSAR Government's wonderful co-operation towards the event to ensure its success displays the importance of this special event in Hong Kong.

"This Committee wishes this event will contribute to promoting safety and peace in the world as well as the mutual understanding between citizens and the police department of each country through the music exchange by the World Police Band Concert," he added.

(More photos on Photo Features)

Parade by the Chinese Capital Police Band outside the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui