Lobby, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of History
Free Admission
Organised by
Government Records Service
Supported by
Hong Kong Museum of History
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On this 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, the Public Records Office (PRO) of the Government Records Service (GRS) has specially curated an "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance" exhibition, featuring precious archives and documentary heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period during the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy.
Selected items in this roving exhibition include photographs documenting the daily marches of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column and paintings depicting their heroic victories against the enemy, a name list of those in the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column who died in the defence of Hong Kong, a news article from The Hongkong News reporting that each person was allocated 6.4 taels of rice per day in 1942, the "Register of Enemy Properties" documenting properties confiscated by the Japanese Military Government, etc. The precious documentary heritage bears witness to the harsh lives of Hong Kong residents during the Japanese occupation and the fearless spirit of the anti-Japanese heroes.
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Paintings depicting anti-Japanese operations by the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column (paintings by Chen Tingtong). (With courtesy of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column). |
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During the early stages of the Japanese occupation, the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column broke through enemy defence lines, successfully rescuing groups of prominent figures in various sectors, including He Xiangning, Liu Yazi, and Zou Taofen, enabling them to continue contributing to the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. |
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During Japanese occupation, residents suffered from severe food shortages. In 1942, each person was only allocated 6.4 taels of rice per day. |
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The "Register of Enemy Properties" documents properties confiscated by the Japanese Military Government. It also records how the Japanese Military Government renamed streets with Japanised names, such as renaming Queen's Road Central to "Nakameiji-dori". |
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During the Japanese Military Government's renovation of Government House, local contractor Sinn Chi Lam discovered the discarded paintings of the "Chater Collection". Risking his life, he secretly relocated 23 paintings to his hometown, and returned them to the Hong Kong Government after the war. |
