Two sampans under sail and oar passing each other starboard-to-starboard in Hong Kong Harbour. The sampan on the left has white sails set with the three crew rowing using long oars. The sampan on the right, closer to the camera, has a dark sail set and an oarsman in the bow. '2611' [2644?] is painted in white on the port bow.

Behind to the left is a single funnel european vessel, and in the background in the distance are hills.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'Sampans, H.K. 1901'.