The handsome builders' model of the Steam Ship (SS) Yuen Sang had been with Marine Region for many years. It used to sit outside the District Police Commander Marine's (the former title of the Regional Commander) office in Tsim Sha Tsui. The model moved to the Marine Harbour Division, Sai Wan Ho, when the division relocated in July 1990.
The vessel has an interesting career. She was built by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company Limited for the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company Limited in 1923. Little is known for her service during her first 16 years. However, during the Second World War, the Yuen Sang and her sister ship Sui Sang saw active service. In 1942 the Sui Sang was written off after catching fire in the Persian Gulf.
Soon after the end of the war, the Yuen Sang was sold to the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company and was renamed the Hai Hsia (Haixia). Three years later she was transferred to the China People's Steam Navigation Company. In 1950 she left for Guangzhou and then Shanghai.
In 1956 she was renamed the Min Chu 12 and in 1967 renamed the Gong Nong Bing 12. Between 1974 and 1975 after over 50 years at sea, she disappeared from the Lloyds Register. This long service was a testament to the quality of the ships built by Hong Kong's dockyards in their heyday.
The Yuen Sang and its story represent perfectly the heart of Hong Kong's success as a port city serving the world's economy and helping build modern China. The Marine Police Officers' Mess has lent the model to the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and it is on display at Murray House in Stanley.
