Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence works intensively for conversion into Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence
The Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that the existing Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence (HKMCD) will be converted into the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence (MWRCD) with a focus on the history of the War of Resistance to cultivate a stronger sense of national esteem and patriotism. The HKMCD will be officially converted into the MWRCD on the Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (September 3) this year, and the thematic exhibition "Brothers in Arms: War of Resistance Activities of the East River Column in Shenzhen and Hong Kong" will be launched on September 4 with free admission to members of the public. The HKMCD today (August 27) held a prelude to the opening of the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence.
Addressing the event, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has long been promoting the history of the War of Resistance and the work of patriotic education. The term "War of Resistance" highlights the mission of the MWRCD to commemorate the history of resistance, preserve the spirit of patriotism, and pay tribute to the heroic sacrifices of the martyrs. It also serves as a reminder to future generations to cherish the peace. The term "Coastal Defence" indicates the museum's strategically important location in the Lyemun Pass (today's Lei Yue Mun Channel), underscoring Hong Kong's longstanding role as the gateway to the nation's southern maritime approaches.
Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the first thematic exhibition after the conversion focuses on the history of the War of Resistance. It introduces the resistance activities of the East River Column in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong, recounting the arduous years when these two blood-related brother areas stood together against foreign aggression. Mr Yeung expressed gratitude particularly to those who have generously donated or loaned artefacts to the museum for display, including the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, and folk collectors. At the event, Mr Yeung received on behalf of the museum a commemorative medal of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression loaned from the President of the Society of Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Ms Lam Chun. In 2015, the Central Government awarded commemorative medals in the name of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission to approximately 210 000 elderly veterans and comrades, wartime generals, and international friends or their families who contributed to China's victory, to honour their historical achievements. The medal will be displayed in the new exhibition.
This new exhibition will showcase some precious exhibits and historical images. They include a cloth bag and a felt blanket used by members of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column during wartime, newspapers published by the East River Column and cartoon images of "Miscellaneous Memories of One Hundred Days in Dongjiang" created by cartoonist Ding Cong, and precious oral history records from veterans. The exhibition has been jointly organised by the MWRCD, Shenzhen Dongjiang Column Memorial Hall and Memorial Hall of Chinese Cultural Celebrity Rescue, in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office of the LCSD, and supported by the Hong Kong Chronicle Institute.
The four existing exhibition galleries at the museum showcasing the history of the War of Resistance, namely "Narrative of the War of Resistance" gallery, "Join Hands to Resist Japanese Invasion" gallery, "Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong" gallery and "Anti-Japanese Guerrillas behind Enemy Lines" gallery, will be collectively known as "the War of Resistance Galleries". Moreover, the converted museum will enhance the display of the Certificate of Commendation presented by the HKSAR Government to the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column, and the name list of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column on the Roll of Honour 1941-1945 who lost their lives during the period of Japanese occupation, to highlight their importance.
To facilitate the unveiling ceremony of the MWRCD and opening ceremony of the thematic exhibition "Brothers in Arms: War of Resistance Activities of the East River Column in Shenzhen and Hong Kong", the HKMCD will be temporarily closed to the public on September 3 (Tuesday).
Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence works intensively for conversion into Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence works intensively for conversion into Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence works intensively for conversion into Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence works intensively for conversion into Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CHP appeals for heightened vigilance against invasive Group B Streptococcus
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 13) appealed to members of the public for heightened vigilance against invasive Group B Streptococcus and in particular, urged them to pay attention when touching or handling raw freshwater fish and should wear gloves, as well as not to consume undercooked freshwater fish.
Hong Kong has recorded in 2021 summer (between September and October) a cluster of more than 50 cases of Group B Streptococcus, belonged to serotype III sequence type 283 (ST283). The then investigation found that the infections were associated with contact of raw freshwater fish or consumption of undercooked freshwater fish. The CHP subsequently enhanced surveillance on the relevant cases with the Hospital Authority (HA). The recent surveillance data revealed an upward trend in the number of in-patients tested positive for invasive Group B Streptococcus during last month and September 11. The CHP immediately conducted further laboratory analysis of the cases in collaboration with the HA and the preliminary result showed that 27 of the cases were ST283. The CHP's analysis of some of the samples is still in progress and it cannot rule out that the number of cases will further increase.
The CHP's epidemiological investigations showed that the 27 patients with ST283 infections involved ten males and 17 females, aged between 53 and 88 (median: 70), residing in 18 districts throughout the territory, with no district clustering identified. Among them, 20 patients have underlying illness. The patients mainly presented with sepsis (15 patients), joint abscess (nine patients), meningitis (two patients) and urinary tract infection (one patient). The HA's information showed that among the 27 patients, five have been discharged, 17 hospitalised patients are in stable condition, three in serious condition and the other two passed away. The CHP is obtaining further information on the cause of death from HA.
The CHP also conducted an in-depth investigation on the exposure history of individual patients prior to the onset of the disease in order to identify the possible sources of infection. It was found that about 90 per cent of the patients had contact with or handled raw freshwater fish, prior to the onset of their disease. Seven of them reported that they had wounds on their hands when handling raw freshwater fish, but no infected person reported that they had consumed freshwater fish sashimi. Based on the above information, the CHP considered that the cause of infection was related to the handling of or contact with raw freshwater fish (especially with wound on the hands).
In addition, investigations revealed that 19 patients had been to freshwater fish stalls in markets and contacted freshwater fish, which involved 14 markets located in different districts. The personnel of the CHP had inspected markets where some of the patients had visited and wholesale fish markets supplying live fish to conduct epidemiological investigations. A total of 71 relevant workers have been monitored and no symptomatic worker found. The CHP has provided health education to the workers and will continue to monitor health conditions of workers of other fish stalls. During the investigations, it was identified that the ST283 isolates of environmental and fish samples collected from a retail freshwater fish stall inside the Shek Wu Hui Market is identical to those found in some patients. For prudence's sake, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has arranged thorough cleansing and disinfection for all freshwater fish stalls inside Shek Wu Hui Market. The investigations of the CHP are ongoing.
The CHP, the FEHD and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) held a joint meeting today to review the relevant situation. The FEHD's personnel will inspect all fish stalls, licensed Fresh Provision Shops and Permitted Premises selling freshwater fishin Hong Kong, provide education on hygiene to relevant workers and request them to strengthen cleaning and disinfection work at the premises. The FEHD conducts thorough cleaning at each public market every day and will pay special attention to the hygiene condition in the vicinity of freshwater fish stalls in the markets. Separately, the AFCD confirmed no abnormality has been observed regarding freshwater fish in wholesale fish markets and will continue to monitor the condition of live fish.
"Literature reported that ST283 exists in freshwater fish, especially in Southeast Asia countries, and with seasonal pattern. Association between invasive Group B Streptococcal infection of ST283 and consumption of raw freshwater fish was also reported in overseas literature," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"Members of the public shall wear gloves when touching or handling raw freshwater fish. If symptoms such as inflamed wound and fever develop, they should seek medical attention promptly. Meanwhile, the public should refrain from consuming undercooked freshwater fish," a spokesman for the CHP reminded.
The CHP will issue a letter to doctors to enhance their alertness for Group B Streptococcus infection cases. The CHP will continue to provide advice to members of the public through different channels to minimise the infection risk and work together with relevant departments to enhance publicity, especially health education related to wound care and consumption of freshwater fish.
A spokesman for the FEHD said that in order to protect public health, freshwater fish sashimi is a prohibited food item under the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) in Hong Kong.
To prevent Group B Streptococcus (ST283) infection, members of the public are reminded to maintain personal, food and environmental hygiene and should keep their hands clean and practice good wound care at all times, especially:
To minimise the infection risks, workers of aquatic products or restaurants must wear gloves when handling aquatic products and avoid direct contact with aquatic products or dirty water with bare hands;
When buying aquatic products, the public must avoid direct contact with the aquatic products or use any towel provided by the stalls. They should wash hands with liquid soap and water as soon as possible if having contact with aquatic products which are not fully cooked. When handling aquatic products at home, the public should also wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
Members of the public must not eat any freshwater fish sashimi, raw or undercooked freshwater aquatic products. When consuming hot pot food or congee items which consist of aquatic products, they should ensure that the food is thoroughly cooked in which the centre of the food should reach a temperature of at least 75 degrees Celsius so as to destroy pathogen; and
People must not touch aquatic products directly whenever there is a wound on hands. If a wound is sustained during handling aquatic products, the wound must be cleaned immediately and properly covered with waterproof adhesive dressings. Individuals should seek medical advice promptly when wound infection is found.
The public may visit the CHP's Invasive Group B Streptococcus Infection associated with Sequence Type 283 (ST283) page for more information.
Source: AI-generated images
