Weixian Western Expatriate Internment Camp Museum delegation visits Hong Kong

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression that ended World War II. The Weixian Western Expatriate Internment Camp in Weifang, Shandong, a key site where international expatriates and Chinese people united against Japanese fascism, serves as a historical witness to this struggle.

The Weixian Western Expatriate Internment Camp Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Weixian Western Expatriate Internment Camp Museum preserves seven historical buildings, including the Ledaoyuan, which functioned as a medical, educational, and religious center. Over 2,000 foreign expatriates were detained there from 1941 until its liberation in August 1945.

Recently, the museum delegation visited Hong Kong, engaging with historical figures and schools to set up a patriotic education center for youth in Hong Kong and Macao. The goal is to encourage young people to learn history and value peace.

The Weixian Western Expatriate Internment Camp Museum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During their visit, the delegation met with Dr. Zheng Hanjun who was a student of Eric Liddell, a British Olympic champion interned at Weixian. Their discussions focused on Liddell's story and the camp's history, emphasizing the importance of educating younger generations.

The group also visited St. Stephen's College, the site of the former Stanley Internment Camp in Hong Kong. The delegation and the school discussed a special exhibition titled "The Wounds of Two Cities", commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory. The group later traveled to Guiyang to meet a centenarian veteran who had participated in the camp's liberation.