Police Band celebrates 55th Anniversary
Commissioner Lee Ming-kwai and the family of the late Sir Shiu-kin Tang, including Lady Tang, Mr Tang Yat-sun and Miss Tang Yuet-fong, officiated at the issue of a postal cover with commemorative stamps at PSRC last month to mark the 55th anniversary of the Hong Kong Police Band.
Deputy Commissioner (Management) Fung Siu-yuen and Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Tang King-shing, together with other directorate officers, also attended the Gala celebration and enjoyed a marvellous and melodious afternoon with 1,500 Force members and their families.
The Gala began with the Police Band, the Pipe Band of the Auxiliary Police Band and the Guangzhou Armed Police Band presenting a spectacular military drill on the rugby pitch of PSRC. The majestic martial music, the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky in particular, captivated the audience. The drill concluded with the solo of Time to Say Goodbye by a female vocalist of the Guangzhou Armed Police Band.
During a buffet on the pitch after the drill, members of the Police Band took the stage and entertained the audience with a programme of melodious Chinese music, pipa solo of Ambush On Ten Sides, amusing football skills and humorous musical performances. They also gave fantastic demonstrations of bicycling skills and Chinese Kung Fu, drawing loud applause from the audience. One can see the Police Band's smart line-up at the flag-raising ceremony held at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai once every ten days, and at various public celebrations, such as the Chinese New Year Parade.
The band has developed from strength to strength since the 1950s, with each bandsman now mastering more than one instrument. Its Director of Music Ng Kam-cheung said the Police Band performs at many public functions each year, helping to promote local music, martial music and the culture of military drill. It has also boosted the image of the Force with its performances on the Mainland and overseas.
Commissioner Lee Ming-kwai presents the Police Band's commemorative postal cover to Lady Tang
Joint performance by the Police Band and Guangzhou Armed Police Band
Part of the military drill presented by the Police Band and Guangzhou Armed Police Band
The smart line-up on the ruby pitch
Joint performance by the pipe bands of the Police Band and Auxiliary Police Band