At Government Dockyard, Yaumatei. Vessels in foreground, from jetty outwards-shallow draft waterjet boats for Deep Bay patrol, Fairey Spear fast inshore patrol craft, Police 3 personnel transport launch. Behind are a pair of the then-new Damen Mk.1 police patrol crat, built locally by Chung Wah Shipyard, to a Dutch design.
A very rare picture of 1950s- vintage fast triple-screw wooden police launches 4 and 5 together. PL5 spent most of its life as a Preventive Service (nowadays Custom and Excise) craft, was transferred to Marine Police in the late 1970s during the illegal immigration crisis. These craft were sold off not long after this pic was taken, Police 4 (which I had commanded in 1976), survived for some years in civilian hands as a party boat, painted white and covered with coloured lights, often seen in the harbour at night. <Read more ...>
