Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence tells the story of Hong Kong's coastal defence with a new look
The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, located at 175 Tung Hei Road, Shau Kei Wan, has undergone major renovation and renewal and will reopen to the public free of charge from (November 24). The updated permanent exhibition introduces the changes in Hong Kong's coastal defence and military from the Tang Dynasty to the return to China, allowing visitors to explore the role played by Hong Kong in historical events in Asia and even the world. It also further strengthens the display of content such as the Japanese invasion of China, the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, the Battle of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, so that the public can have a deeper understanding of this period of history.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held on November 23. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary for Administration Cheuk Wing-hing said that the SAR Government attaches great importance to promoting public understanding of Hong Kong's anti-Japanese history, especially the anti-Japanese contributions of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column. Therefore, when we reopened the museum, we increased the number of exhibition halls on the history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression from two to four. We also set up QR codes in the exhibition halls that link to the websites of 31 museums or memorial halls in the Mainland that focus on the Chinese War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, guiding visitors to browse and gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and related venues in the Mainland. It is hoped that through the visit, the public will understand and remember the arduous experience of the Chinese people in the war of resistance, cherish the memory of their compatriots who sacrificed their lives to defend the country, and appreciate their patriotism, thereby understanding that Hong Kong’s past is inextricably linked to China’s modern history, and will have a greater sense of belonging to the country and greater national pride.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony included Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung, Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee So Cheung-tak, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Lau Ming-kwong and Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History Ng Chi-wo.
The new permanent exhibition "Stories of Hong Kong's Coastal Defence" located in the fortress of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence has a total of eleven exhibition halls, covering topics including defense construction throughout the ages, military layout, harbour facilities, the history of the Anti-Japanese War, the Volunteer Army, the stories of multi-ethnic soldiers serving in Hong Kong, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison. The "Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong" exhibition hall focuses on Hong Kong's preparations before the outbreak of the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941, the course of the Battle of Hong Kong, and the experiences of prisoners of war. The museum has specially produced an immersive film to allow the audience to experience the fierce fighting conditions of the 18-Day War and understand the guerrillas' activities behind enemy lines. In addition, the interactive installation "Tracing the Guerrillas' Anti-Japanese War Sites" in the "Sound and Image of the Anti-Japanese War" exhibition hall introduces a lot of information about the anti-Japanese war relics. At the same time, it displays precious interviews with guerrilla members, historical photos and videos, witnessing the heroic deeds of the guerrillas and Hong Kong citizens in defending their homeland. The "Harbour Facilities" exhibition hall uses multimedia to display a number of hospital ships and base ships that once docked in Victoria Harbour for a long time, as well as famous warships that have visited Hong Kong. The "Military People of Different Ethnicities" exhibition hall introduces the era when people of different ethnicities, including the British, Chinese, Indians and Nepalese, were stationed in Hong Kong. The exhibition tells the story of the multi-ethnic garrison through military historical relics, archives and personal anecdotes.
The "Lei Yue Mun Military Fortress Historic Trail" of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence has set up 24 historical sites, including a torpedo launch station built in a rock cave on the shore, the Lei Yue Mun Fortress, multiple artillery batteries and trench forts, etc. Visitors can experience the history and military atmosphere of the Lei Yue Mun Channel through the historical trail, and appreciate the unique beauty of the interweaving of artificial structures and natural scenery.
The updated museum has injected more multimedia elements into the exhibitions and historical trails, telling the unique story of Hong Kong's coastal defence with novel interpretation techniques and thematic forms. Visitors can also use the "Smart Expo" mobile application to interact with the exhibits through their smartphones and obtain more multimedia content about the exhibits. For exhibition details, please visit the website or call for enquiries.
In order to comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulations and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant administrative orders, members of the public are required to scan the "Leave Home Safe" venue QR code using their mobile phones/other mobile devices before entering museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). According to the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant administrative orders, all persons entering indoor venues managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department must comply with the relevant requirements for the implementation of the "Vaccine Pass". According to the government's current "vaccine pass" regulations, people classified as "red codes" will not be allowed to enter museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. People holding "yellow codes" can enter, but they must hold a valid "vaccine pass".
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