A starboard broadside view of HMS Tamar (1863) anchored at Hong Kong, wearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hobart Seymour GCB. The ship is shown as a receiving ship in Hong Kong harbour with the entire weather deck has been covered with a pitched roof. The lower masts are still stepped, but the yards have been taken down. At the stern is a white ensign and at the bow is a Union Jack. Boats are in the water alongside, as well as suspended from davits. In the background is a two-funnelled warship.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'HMS Tamar. December 1900' although the back of the contact print it is written: 'H.M.S. "Tamar" Nov 1900.'.