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Commemorating martyrs in resistance against Japanese aggression through archives: "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes" exhibition revisits Hong Kong's three years and eight months of Japanese occupation (with photos)
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     ​Today (September 3) marks the Victory Day 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 its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented 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. 

     On December 25, 1941, Hong Kong entered three years and eight months of Japanese occupation, during which residents suffered from the invasion, severe food shortages and various hardships. 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. Throughout the Japanese occupation, they braved life-and-death danger to engage in combat with the Japanese army, penetrating deep into enemy territories and waters to restrain and attack enemy forces.

     This exhibition showcases over 120 selected items, including 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 the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column who died in the defence of Hong Kong, the "Register of Enemy Properties" documenting property confiscated by the Japanese Military Government, etc. Additionally, the items reveal stories including the then Hong Kong Government pursuing after the war the recovery of books from the libraries of the University of Hong Kong looted by the Japanese forces, the demolition of the Japanese War Memorial, etc. The precious documented heritage bears witness to the harsh lives of Hong Kong residents during the Japanese occupation and the fearless spirit of the anti-Japanese heroes.

     The thematic exhibition is open from today onwards from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.45pm (except public holidays), at the Exhibition Hall on the second floor of the Hong Kong Public Records Building at 13 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. Admission is free. In addition to distinctive photo spots, visitors can also experience the weight of the daily rice ration of "6.4 taels" during the Japanese occupation, understanding the hardships of people's lives at that time.

     To provide members of the public with a better understanding of this history, the PRO has developed a thematic online exhibition (www.grs.gov.hk/ws/online/80VWR/en/home/index.html). Its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/grs.publicrecordsoffice) will regularly share selected exhibition content and historical stories.

     The PRO will also organise roving exhibitions of this thematic exhibition in various districts of Hong Kong. Details will be announced on the GRS website (www.grs.gov.hk) and the PRO Facebook page later. For enquiries, please contact the PRO at 2195 7700 or email to proinfo@grs.gov.hk.
 
Ends/Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:15
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The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. The image shows 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).
The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. 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.
The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. The "Register of Enemy Properties" documents property 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 "Nakameiji-dori".
The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. 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.
The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. During the Japanese occupation, a large number of books from the libraries of the University of Hong Kong were seized by the Japanese forces and taken to Japan. After the war, Librarian of the Fung Ping Shan Library of the University of Hong Kong Chan Kwan Po initially sorted out a list and identified over 7 600 books from the University that had been seized by the Japanese forces. The books were eventually found in Tokyo, Japan, and the Hong Kong Government successfully recovered some of the looted books.
The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. The Japanese War Memorial symbolised Japanese invasion. When Japanese surrendered in 1945, its construction was still incomplete. The Hong Kong Government demolished it in 1947, with only its foundation remaining.
The Public Records Office of the Government Records Service today (September 3) launched its annual thematic exhibition, this one entitled "Unyielding Land, Eternal Heroes: 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance", featuring precious archives and documented heritage for members of the public to revisit Hong Kong's painful period under the Japanese occupation (1941-1945) and understand the heroic resistance of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column against the enemy. In addition to distinctive photo spots, visitors can also experience the weight of the daily rice ration of "6.4 taels" during the Japanese occupation, understanding the hardships of people's lives at that time.