Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Launches Thematic Exhibition "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance"

Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence launches thematic exhibition "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance"

The Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence (MWRCD) is collaborating with the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration to stage the "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition. The exhibition will run from August 28 to July 7, 2027. The exhibition brings revolutionary relics from three cultural and heritage institutions in Shaanxi Province to Hong Kong for the first time. It illustrates how the Communist Party of China (CPC) led the resistance during the War of Resistance, offering an overview of the patriotic youths from across the country and international friends who travelled to Yan'an to support the war effort. It also presents the history of the deep bond between Yan'an and Hong Kong amid the flames of war, enhancing public understanding of the significant contributions made by the CPC and the patriotic spirit of the youth of that time. Admission is free.

Addressing the opening ceremony today (August 27), the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam, said that during the War of Resistance, countless patriotic youths stepped forward and travelled to Yan'an to support the war effort. Hong Kong, leveraging its unique political and geographical background, served not only as a window to publicise the resistance to the international community, but also as a vital transit hub for overseas relief supplies. Apart from honouring martyrs and commemorating the outstanding contributions of predecessors to the War of Resistance, the exhibition aims to pass on this timeless spirit of patriotism across generations. She added that the MWRCD has long shouldered the important mission of promoting the history of the War of Resistance, allowing the public to gain a deeper understanding of the history of the War of Resistance and the sacrifice of martyrs, and to cultivate national identity and patriotism among students and the general public through organising regular thematic exhibitions and diverse public education activities. Last year, the MWRCD held over 1 600 educational activities and received an attendance of over 170 000.

Other officiating guests included the Second-level Inspector of the Education and Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Cui Feng; Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration Mr Ma Baoshou; the Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, Dr Eliza Chan; the Chief Editor of the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute, Professor Lau Chi-pang; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; the President of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Ms Lam Chun; and the Head of the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, Mr Terence Cheung.

This exhibition comprises three parts, namely "United in the War of Resistance: A Guiding Beacon", "Chasing Dreams in the Holy Land: A Shared Journey of Youth", and "Backed by the Motherland, Connected to the World", featuring approximately 24 sets of exhibits from the Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army Xi'an Office, the Yan'an Literature and Art Memorial Museum, and the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political University Memorial Hall, displayed in Hong Kong for the first time. The exhibits include "On the United Front: Our Proposal to Resist Japan and Save the Nation in the Past Year" published in 1937, the piano sheet music in German used by famous female composer and pianist Ji Ming, a graduation certificate of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in 1940, a bugle used by the Eighth Route Army, and a medal for model youth issued by the Political Department of the 18th Army Group, and more. Among them are five second-grade and four third-grade cultural relics. There are also five cultural relics from Hong Kong, including "The Eastern Pictorial" in 1941 and a vinyl record of "Sending Winter Clothes" by Lam Yee-mui from 1938, alongside over 90 photographs which portray the history of the War of Resistance in Yan'an.

In addition to the thematic exhibition gallery, the exhibition also features the "Interactive Yan'an" zone and the "Youth Academy" education corner, which feature bite-sized facts about Yan'an and multimedia programmes to allow visitors to explore the "Revolutionary Holy Land" of Yan'an from multiple perspectives. To complement the exhibition, the MWRCD will organise a series of activities, including thematic lectures, workshops, film screenings, and musical performances, highlighting Yan'an's tremendous contributions during the War of Resistance as well as its historical connection with Hong Kong in an easy-to-understand manner.

The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration and jointly organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, the MWRCD, the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and the Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army Xi'an Office. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website of the MWRCD at hk.waranddefence.museum/en/web/mcd/youthheadingtoyanan.html.

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows the "Youth Academy" education corner which features bite-sized facts about Yan'an, including its history and intangible cultural heritage. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows the "Interactive Yan'an" zone. Visitors can put on the Eighth Route Army gear. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7,2027. Photo shows "The Eastern Pictorial” published in 1941, which was founded by the Hong Kong branch of the Commercial Press and covered a wide range of topics, including the latest news in the War of Resistance, science, economics, industry trends and literary works. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows the vinyl record of "Sending Winter Clothes" from Lam Yee-mui in 1938. She sold the record for charity to appeal for public donations to aid compatriots during the national crisis. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows a medal for model youth issued by the Political Department of the 18th Army Group. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows a bugle used by the Eighth Route Army (replica). The Eighth Route Army sounded the bugle to signal a charge during the War of Resistance. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows a graduation certificate issued on June 1, 1940, to cadet Ding Jun of the 5th Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cadre of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows the piano sheet music in German used by famous female composer and pianist Ji Ming who organised many singing movements for national salvation during the War of Resistance. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows "On the United Front: Our Proposal to Resist Japan and Save the Nation in the Past Year" published in 1937. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence from tomorrow (August 28) to July 7, 2027. Photo shows the officiating guests touring the exhibition. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The opening ceremony of the "Youth Heading to Yan'an: Patriotic Youth During the War of Resistance" thematic exhibition was held at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence today (August 27). Photo shows (from right) the President of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Ms Lam Chun; the Chief Editor of the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute, Professor Lau Chi-pang; Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration Mr Ma Baoshou; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Miss Eve Tam; Second-level Inspector of the Education and Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Cui Feng; the Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, Dr Eliza Chan; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; and the Head of the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, Mr Terence Cheung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and importing alternative smoking products

An incoming male passenger was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing an alternative smoking product, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO).

Customs officers intercepted a 20-year-old incoming Mainland male passenger at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 26) and seized 75 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes and 7 600 alternative smoking products, with an estimated market value of about $364,100 and a duty potential of about $247,900 from his personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

An incoming air passenger was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 27) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes, failing to declare them to Customs officers, as well as importing alternative smoking products, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and the Import and Export Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products seized in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases