Text on Flickr:
The procession of the Chinese company of the Special Police Reserve at Connaught Road Central, who were armed with Maxim guns. The pier at the background was the former Star Ferry Pier. = 後備警隊的華籍成員在中區干諾道中巡行，他們配備長槍。背景是昔日的天星碼頭
In 1914, the World War I broke out and many European members of the Hong Kong Police Force returned to their homes in order to join the war. In order to make good the loss of manpower and as a precaution against emergencies, the Special Police Reserve was
一九一四年歐戰爆發，不少歐籍警察離開香港，回國效力。為了維持治安情況，警隊在一九一五年二月成立了特別後備警察，由一位狀師贊近指揮。他被委任為助理後備警察總監，後更升為副總監。這支隊伍由英籍、印籍、葡籍及華籍成員組成，並有槍隊、摩托車隊和騎警隊。到了一九一六年，這隊伍人員已增至六百四十二名。圖中所見便是後備警隊的華籍成員在中區干諾道中巡行，他們配備長槍。背景是昔日的天星碼頭。
I'm not sure if the date and text match with the photo's date as the Temporary Star Ferry Pier is still there. Or is it another pier?
Source: This image came from Flickr, see https://flickr.com/photo.gne?id=2391577727
Comments
As Klaus notes, the photo's…
As Klaus notes, the photo's date means it is too late to still see the temporary pier. Instead this is the much larger pier that was built to replace it: Central Star Ferry Pier (2nd Location, Connaught Rd off Ice House St) [1912-1958]
Here's another view of the later pier:
Star Ferry Pier
Hi David. Yes, the pier is much longer than the older temporary one, and I also think it's the second location pier. One clue is the existence of two lamp posts at the end of the pier that can be seen on many photos.
What puzzles me a bit is the superstructure above the pier. It looks much smaller compared to the one on other photos from that time.
Please replace the temporary pier by the second location one as I can't edit the post.
superstructure above the pier
The roof of the newer pier was painted white and the photo at the top of the page is quite faded, so the white roof disappears from sight.
I've updated the Place.