 This
summer, Canadian soldiers who defended Hong Kong during the
Second World War received a long overdue memorial in Ottawa,
thanks in part to the efforts of a new generation of Hong Kong
residents; the 69-member Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra
(HKCSO).
A total of 1,975 Canadian soldiers took part in the brutal
17-day Battle of Hong Kong in December, 1941; 291 were killed
and 500 wounded. Less than 90 survive today and the Hong Kong
Veterans Commemorative Association wanted a permanent memorial
in Ottawa before too many more veterans passed away.
 In
order to help fund the memorial, the Hong Kong Economic and
Trade Office in Canada (HKETO), the Hong Kong-Canada Business
Association and the Toronto Hong Kong Lions Club, banded
together to bring the HKCSO to Canada for a benefit concert on
August 8 in Toronto, raising more than $24,000 for the memorial.
Twenty-two Canadian veterans of Hong Kong attended the unveiling
of the elegant granite memorial wall (at the corner of Sussex
Drive and King Edward Avenue) on August 15.
 After
the ceremony the HKCSO played to a capacity crowd of over 500 at
the Canadian War Museum. Canada's Minister of International
Trade, the Hon. Stockwell Day, whose father was captured during
the defense of Hong Kong, attended the unveiling and called the
participation of the HKCSO, a "very meaningful gesture from the
Hong Kong Government."
HKETO Director, Ms Maureen Siu said her office was delighted to
initiate and support the concerts not only because it allowed
young people from Hong Kong to say "thank you" to Canadian
soldiers, but also because it further cemented the longstanding,
close relationship between Hong Kong and Canada. |
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