Photo of the day No. 59 - The Noon Day Gun Hong Kong
A very old tradition still startling passers by in Hong Kong
Me Jamie, your host, I am English and I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years - I know the place.
I have personally completed 2,340+ Private Tours and Experiences (over 6,000+ guests) since April 2011 and I am considered one of the finest Private Tour Guides in Asia.
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Photo of the day No. 59 - The Noon Day Gun Hong Kong
A very old tradition still startling passers by in Hong Kong
click on the image to enlarge
An old historic tradition that startles passers by walking by on the nearby sidewalk at 12pm every day - what an absolutely iconic tradition still going strong in 2025
I have lived in Hong Kong for 53 years and this is still one of my favourite things to watch, I estimate I have seen it over the years about 300 times - unfortunately these days I cannot make it as it is extremely time sensitive (!) and hard to fit in around a tour schedule.
If you have the time when you are in Hong Kong, it is something you should make time for, it is Hong Kong culture 101!
The Noon Day Gun | Hong Kong
History and Development of the Noonday Gun in Hong Kong
Overview
The Noonday Gun, is a historical naval artillery piece located near the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter on Hong Kong Island. Owned and operated by Jardine Matheson, it is fired every day at noon, serving as a timekeeping tradition and a popular tourist attraction. The gun is situated on the waterfront of what was formerly known as East Point, the first plot of land sold by the colonial government at public auction in 1841, (known as Lot Number 1) purchased by Jardine Matheson on a 999 year lease. Over time, land reclamation has shifted the coastline northward, altering the gun’s exact location, and the name East Point is no longer used.
Significant Dates
1841: Jardine Matheson purchases the East Point plot, the first land sold at public auction in Hong Kong, where the Noonday Gun would later be established.
1860s: The tradition of the Noonday Gun begins, reportedly due to an incident involving a gun salute for a Jardine Matheson tai-pan (company head).
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The Noon Day Gun | Hong Kong
1941: During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the original gun is dismantled by the Japanese Imperial Army and lost.
1945: After British forces regain Hong Kong, the Royal Navy provides Jardine Matheson with a new six-pound gun to resume the tradition.
July 1, 1947: The Noonday Gun resumes its daily firing after the wartime interruption.
1961: Following noise complaints, the six-pound gun is replaced with a Hotchkiss three-pounder gun, which saw action in the Battle of Jutland during World War I.
1989: Jardine Matheson begins offering the firing of the Noonday Gun as a fundraising event for The Community Chest of Hong Kong, with donations starting at HK$48,000.
1997: British colonial rule ends in Hong Kong, but Jardine Matheson continues the Noonday Gun tradition.
2025: The Noonday Gun remains operational, firing daily at noon and at midnight on New Year’s Eve, known as the “Midnight Gun.”
Responsible Company
The Noonday Gun is owned and operated by Jardine Matheson, a British conglomerate founded in the early 1830s by Scotsmen William Jardine and James Matheson. The company, one of the original Hong Kong trading houses or “hongs,” was historically involved in shipping tea, cotton, and opium, and it remains a major player in industries such as retail, real estate, and automobiles. The gun is located on land purchased by Jardine Matheson in 1841, and the company has maintained the tradition since its inception.
Reason for Installation
The origin of the Noonday Gun is steeped in legend, with the most commonly cited story dating back to the 1860s. According to local folklore, Jardine Matheson’s private militia fired a gun salute to welcome the company’s tai-pan (a term for the non-Chinese head of a China-based company) whenever he arrived or departed by sea at East Point. This practice reportedly annoyed a senior British naval officer, who was new to Hong Kong and unaware of the tradition. Such salutes were typically reserved for high-ranking government officials or military officers. As a penalty, Jardine Matheson was ordered to fire the gun every day at noon in perpetuity as a public time signal, allowing ships in the harbor to calibrate their chronometers for navigation. While some versions suggest the salute was for Jardine’s ships rather than the tai-pan, the timekeeping function likely holds a kernel of truth, as similar practices were common in 19th-century harbors.
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The Noon Day Gun | Hong Kong
Continuity of Firing
The Noonday Gun has been fired every day at noon since the 1860s, with a notable interruption during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945, when the original gun was dismantled and lost. The tradition resumed on July 1, 1947, after the Royal Navy provided a replacement gun. Since then, the gun has been fired daily without significant interruption, except on rare occasions due to severe weather or other anomalies. Additionally, it is fired at midnight on New Year’s Eve, known as the “Midnight Gun,” to mark the New Year.
Operation in 2025
As of 2025, the Noonday Gun continues to operate, firing every day at noon and at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The tradition, maintained by Jardine Matheson, remains a symbol of Hong Kong’s colonial history and a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can witness the firing daily from 12:00 to 12:30 PM.
How to Get There
The Noonday Gun is located on the waterfront near the Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, accessible via a tunnel under Gloucester Road from the basement car park of The Excelsior hotel, operated by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, a Jardine Matheson subsidiary. The Excelsior closed in 2019 and was replaced by an office tower, but the tunnel remains the primary access route. To reach the gun:
Take the MTR to Causeway Bay Station and use Exit D1.
Walk along Lockhart Road, then turn into Cannon Street.
Proceed to Jaffe Road toward the World Trade Centre.
There is a car park underneath the World Trade Centre in Causeway Bay, with a tunnel leading to the Noon Day Gun.
The Excelsior Hotel has been replaced by a building called One Causeway Bay, which is adjacent to the World Trade Centre and there should be a sign on the wall opposite One Causeway Bay on the World Trade Centre wall that leads to the tunnel via the basement car park. There are signs!
Pass through the tunne to emerge at the Noonday Gun site.
The tunnel can be difficult to locate, but there are signs on the walls
Who Fires the Gun?
The Noonday Gun is typically fired by a uniformed Jardine Matheson guard. The daily ceremony involves the guard marching to the site, ringing a bell to signal the end of the forenoon watch (a tradition from when Jardine’s offices were at East Point), firing the gun, ringing the bell again, locking a chain to block access, and departing. Additionally, individuals or companies can fire the gun by making significant donations to charities supported by Jardine Matheson, such as MINDSET (minimum donation HK$28,000 for individuals, HK$38,000 for corporations) or The Community Chest of Hong Kong (minimum donation HK$48,000). Donors receive a commemorative bullet casing replica and, upon request, a piper may accompany the event at the donor’s expense.
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2 Similar Guns at 1881 Heritage | Hong Kong
Interesting Stories and Information
Please note that there are 2 similar guns at 1881 Heritage on Canton Road | Salisbury Road in TST Kowloon, this is the former Marine Police Headquarters re purposed into a Hotel and Shopping Mall - there is NO known connection between these 2 guns and the Noon Day gun and these guns DO not fire, ever!
Noel Coward Reference: The Noonday Gun gained cultural fame through Noel Coward’s 1931 song “Mad Dogs and Englishmen,” performed in the musical revue The Third Little Show. The lyrics reference the gun: “In Hong Kong, they strike a gong, and fire off a noonday gun / To reprimand each inmate who’s in late.” Coward visited Hong Kong in 1968 and was allowed to fire the gun, cementing its place in popular culture.
Charitable Fundraising: Since 1989, Jardine Matheson has used the Noonday Gun as a fundraising tool for The Community Chest, allowing donors to participate in the firing ceremony. This practice also supports MINDSET, a mental health organization, blending tradition with philanthropy.
Historical Context: Jardine Matheson’s early wealth came partly from the opium trade, a controversial aspect of its history. The Noonday Gun’s location on the first plot of land sold in Hong Kong underscores the company’s foundational role in the city’s colonial economy.
World War I Connection: The current Hotchkiss three-pounder gun, installed in 1961, was used in the Battle of Jutland (1916), adding a layer of military history to the tradition.
Local Impact: The gun’s loud “explosion” can startle pedestrians, described as a “daily earthquake.” Historian John M. Carroll notes that many Hong Kong residents, especially those not on Hong Kong Island, may be unaware of the tradition or its cultural references, like Noel Coward and yes I can confirm that the when the gun is fired it can be heard miles away!
Anecdotal Tale: A personal account from 2017 describes a visitor missing the noon firing due to Typhoon Mawar but still visiting the site, highlighting its allure despite challenges.
The Noonday Gun remains a unique blend of colonial history, maritime tradition, and modern philanthropy, symbolizing Hong Kong’s past and present. Visitors are encouraged to plan their trip carefully due to the site’s tucked-away location and to respect its historical significance during the daily ceremony.
My insider tip
Please note that in general if you book a tour on Viator or Tripadvisor you generally have NO control over what guide will lead your Private Tour of Hong Kong and this is the most important component of the tour. I urge you to check the actual company website and book via their website and do not forget to read Tripadvisor reviews as well.
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