Hong Kong veterans and officials on Tuesday commemorated the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, a guerrilla force led by the Communist Party of China, calling on society to remember history.

In December 1941, Hong Kong fell into the hands of Japanese invaders, beginning an occupation period of three years and eight months. Throughout the period, the battalion waged persistent anti Japanese campaigns, rescued Allied soldiers and cultural celebrities such as the legendary Chinese Peking opera artist Mei Lanfang and renowned writer Mao Dun, and gathered intelligence for the Chinese army, courageously defending their home city with their lives.

At a commemorative ceremony on Tuesday, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said she paid high tribute to the veterans as the battalion wrote a heroic chapter in defending the homeland during the city’s dark years under Japanese occupation, which also played a core role in supporting anti-Japanese aggression in South China.

She called on the public not to forget the history of the war and thanked the families of veterans for supporting historical research and education in Hong Kong, including donating wartime artifacts such as badges and other memorabilia to enhance public understanding.

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The event’s attendees also witnessed the inaugural board induction ceremony of an education foundation.

The foundation, established in 2022 with the authorization of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, is dedicated to advance patriotic education and uphold the battalion’s legacy.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com