Station sergeant is the highest non-commissioned rank in the Hong Kong Police Force.
To progress to the rank of probationary inspector, a station sergeant must undergo the same application process as other junior officers.
A distinctive feature of the uniform of a station sergeant is that they wear the white shirt typically worn by commissioned officers as opposed to the cornflower blue or dodger blue shirts worn by sergeants and all ranks below.
From 1921, this arrangement was replaced by a crown over three chevrons - the same insignia as a staff sergeant in the British Army.
The last officer to hold the rank was Station Sergeant William Palmer, who retired in 1980.
However, the term continued to be used to denote the longest-serving sergeant in a station, although it was no longer a separate rank with its own insignia.
[4] The insignia commonly associated with the rank of station sergeant is still used within the City of London Police for those officers in an acting inspector role.
It is an appointment given to the response team leaders of the operational division to symbolise their seniority.
[9] The Constabulary was disbanded in May 2006 with its functions transferred to the Royal Parks Operational Command Unit in the Metropolitan Police.