Families to re-enact wartime great escape from Hong Kong
On the day 67 years ago that Hong Kong's British governor surrendered to the invading Japanese army, 72 soldiers - led by a one-legged Chinese admiral - began a daring escape from the city that would eventually lead some to the safety of Burma (now Myanmar).
Now, 10 years after descendants of the admiral chanced upon research by the son of a British sailor who was among the party, dozens of descendants of the officers are finalising plans to re-enact the first leg of their great escape from Hong Kong.
The organisers want not only to commemorate their courageous forebears but to remind the world of the Sino-British friendship that led to this military joint venture, the first ever by Britain and China.
Richard Hide, who came up with the idea and who is chairman of the organising committee, expects between 20 and 40 direct descendants of the 72 officers, and some of their relatives, to travel to Hong Kong next Christmas for the re-enactment.
On Christmas Day 1941, when Governor Sir Mark Young formally surrendered to Lieutenant General Takashi Sakai - who led the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong - Chinese admiral Chan Chak refused to give in.
The admiral - who had been sent by Chiang Kai-shek to help the city's British and Allied defenders - led the escape party, which left from Ap Lei Chau and crossed into China at Nanao , Shenzhen. Among the escapees was Mr Hide's father, acting stoker mechanic petty officer Stephen 'Buddy' Hide.
Within five days, the party had reached Huizhou , where the men split into different groups - some staying and others, including Buddy Hide, pushing on through southwestern China to the Burmese capital, Rangoon (now Yangon).
Richard Hide said: 'To hand over a British military outfit to a foreign national was unheard of.'
Admiral Chan was later made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI.
In 1996, Richard Hide created a website about his father's experiences. It was spotted by admiral Chan's son Duncan Chan On-pong, and quickly developed into a meeting point for the escapees' descendants.
Duncan Chan, vice-chairman of the organising committee, said they had agreed a few years ago to re-enact the flight to safety. 'This is to commemorate the first military joint venture between the British and the Chinese as they fought the Japanese.'
His twin brother, Donald Chan On-kwok, president of the organising committee, said: 'For a long time, China had been attacked by the western powers.'
Donald Chan hopes the re-enactment will become an annual event.
The organisers also hope to tell the story of the escape through an exhibition of photos and the men's diaries at Hong Kong's Museum of Coastal Defence in Shau Kei Wan. A government spokesman said negotiations for it were under way.
