Hong Kong college students on Wednesday praised the nation’s defense prowess, vowing to contribute to national security after watching the live broadcast of the grand military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The 70-minute military procession -- the second such event held in the capital in a decade – rallied government officials and community representatives from across the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in honoring the nation’s wartime sacrifices and appreciating the unveiling of next-generation weaponry presented as vital to safeguarding national sovereignty and security.
About 200 staff members and students of the Hong Kong College of Technology gathered on the campus in Ma On Shan, Sha Tin, to watch the broadcast of the parade which started at 9am.
“The parade was grandeur, especially the new hardware, drones, tanks and advanced informationized systems,” said Anson Sui Pan-wa -- a 2025 graduate of the immigration and Customs officers’ preparation training course at HKCT. “Watching it has strengthened my sense of privilege to be Chinese, of belonging to the motherland. I felt proud.”
Calling himself a military buff, Sui acted as a student docent in sharing the commentary as he joined fellow students and educators during the broadcast.
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Reflecting on a fortnight of preparations for the commentary, he said he had “learned a great deal about the country’s latest military advancement in the process.”
“There are nerves,” he admitted. “But, above all, there’s genuine excitement at being able to enjoy such a rare opportunity to help more people learn about the country’s military modernization and the role of a strong military in safeguarding national security.”
Having also watched the parade in 2015 on television, Sui said he was thrilled to witness the continued evolution of the Chinese armed forces, particularly their new structure layout this time with four branches -- the aerospace force, cyberspace force, information support force, and the joint logistics support force.
He looks forward to the development of more strategic capabilities to protect the country, saying he would like to join Hong Kong’s disciplined services, including the police and firefighters, pledging his steadfast resolve to serve the city’s residents.
Addressing the packed auditorium ahead of the parade, HKCT Vice-President Ada Li said remembering history will help shape Hong Kong people’s identity and future responsibilities.
She recalled that during China’s years of struggle, there were many young people in Hong Kong who were moved by the spirit of resistance and joined the war effort, shaping their own destiny along with the nation.
“Although you’re not called to the battlefield today, students -- the future pillars of society -- can still contribute to safeguarding national security and the development of Hong Kong and the country through action and every line of work in their daily lives,” Li said to applause.
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With conflicts and suffering still going on around the world, strong national defense is essential to safeguard a country’s sovereignty and protect its people from aggression, she said.
