Members of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment place flowers during the commemoration of Victory Day of the 70th Anniversary of liberation of Hong Kong. Photo: Franke Tsang

Veterans gather to remember those who died in the defence of Hong Kong

Garden of Remembrance ceremony honours 70th anniversary of the city's liberation

Published: 2:30pm, 16 Aug 2015

World War Two veterans, the oldest one 95 years old, gathered together in their suits at the Garden of Remembrance outside Central’s City Hall this morning to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Hong Kong.

The ceremony, which started at 11am, commemorated those who gave their lives in the defence of Hong Kong during the second World War.

Jointly organized by the Hong Kong Prisoners of War Association and the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) Association, the memorial ceremony began with a two minute silence.

Veterans pose for a photo behind wreaths of poppies. Photo: Reuters

To the somber tune of bagpipes, official representatives from the Hong Kong government and Consul-Generals then walked up to the Memorial Shrine one by one to lay down flower wreaths. They were followed by veterans, who laid down red roses.

“There are only around 20 of us left,” said Choi Bing-yiu, a 94-year-old veteran. “Most of us died and many cannot come, some are in wheelchairs and some are in elderly homes. The fact that I can come is already very fortunate.”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Choi was a soldier in the artillery division during the Second World War. “I was stationed at where Wah Fu Estate is now,” he recalled, referring to the public housing estate in Southern district. “We were the first to fall a Japanese plane.”

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