Firing a salute on Statue Square

Sun, 05/07/2017 - 23:06

Firing a salute on Statue Square with Hongkong Club Building still under construction. This indicates the date of this image to be 1896.

This photo from the UK National Archives gives no further explanation for this occasion. Unveiling of Queen Victoria's Statue. 

Source: This image came from Flickr, see https://flickr.com/photo.gne?id=7838434232

Date picture taken
28 May 1896

Comments

I think the photo is of the unveiling of the Queen's Statue.

HK Telegraph 28 May 1896

Surrounding the three sides of the statue .... were nearly 2,000 troops. Invited guests to the number of 1,000 were accommodated in a matshed temporarily erected on the water side of the square. Promptly at 5:15 p.m. His Excellency, the Governor and his staff and high military and naval authorities appeared in view, whereupon the troops were brought to attention and shouldered arms. His Excellecy and staff then proceeded to take their places in the centre of the Stand, where, beneath the Royal Arms, His Excellency faced about, the troops presented arms, and to the strains of the national anthem, the Royal Standard was fluttered in the south-west breeze.

Following speeches made by Chater and the Governor, His Excellency then with troops at the "present,"  pulled the cord which lifted the standard veiling the statue and amid the deafening cheers of thousands of all nationalities present and the strains of "God Save The Queen" by the bands, the image of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria was displayed to view. Then thrice round the square rattled the feu de joie from the troops followed by royal salutes from the military on the Praya and from the Commodore's flagship, the Victor Emanuel.