Plaques hailing heroism of soldiers who defended HK fading away

Hundreds of Canadian soldiers died in the defence of Hong Kong in December 1941 and in prisoner-of-war camps afterwards. To mark their bravery and sacrifice, three plaques were erected in 2005 by the Consulate General of Canada and the Hong Kong government at sites where battles occurred.

The problem, five years on, is that they are difficult to read.

'These soldiers sacrificed their lives and it's important that we should honour their memory,' says Martin Heyes, who takes tourists on tours around Hong Kong showing where the battles were fought. 'Not only are the plaques impossible to read, the concrete [plinths] which they stand on are also covered in moss at two sites. It's appalling that they should have been allowed to become a mess. They need to be cleaned and the inscription needs to be engraved more deeply.'

Who is responsible for maintaining the plaques remains a ambiguous. Two of the three plaques are installed at sites managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). One is at Lawson's Bunker in Wong Nai Chung Gap Road and is part of a war trail. Another is situated outside the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence. The third, in part dedicated to the memory of John Osborn, the only soldier here to receive the British Commonwealth's highest military decoration, the Victoria Cross, is situated at Jardine's Lookout.

An LCSD spokeswoman insisted that a recent check of the plaques under its jurisdiction, had shown that they were in good condition and that there had been no deterioration in the writing. The one at Lawson's Bunker, she said, was inspected by the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Museum staff were responsible for the maintenance of the one at the museum in Shau Kei Wan, she said. However, the consulate was responsible for maintenance of the plaque at Jardine's Lookout.

Meanwhile, a consulate spokeswoman said they were aware of Heyes' complaints.