This photo shows the attire worn by members of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column displayed in the "Anti-Japanese Guerrillas behind Enemy Lines" gallery. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – After major repairs and renovations, Hong Kong's Museum of Coastal Defence will reopen to the public on Thursday, with free admission.

The museum's revamped permanent exhibition narrates the history of the city's coastal defense and military affairs from the Tang dynasty to Hong Kong's return to the motherland, with multimedia elements added.

The government attaches great importance to facilitating public understanding of the history of Hong Kong's War of Resistance against Japanese aggression, especially the contributions of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing said while addressing the opening ceremony on Wednesday.

Museum of History Museum Director Ng Chi-wo (first left) introduces new permanent exhibition "The Story of Hong Kong Coastal Defence" at the Museum of Coastal Defence to Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing (second left), Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee Douglas So (second right); and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Vincent Liu (first right) on Nov 23, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

He expressed his hope that through visits to the museum, members of the public could learn and remember the tough times Chinese people had to go through during war time, pay tribute to the compatriots who bravely fought and died for their country and draw on their spiritual strength of patriotism. 

When people visit this museum, they can actually experience the historical and spatial context during the war.

Ng Chi-wo, Director, Museum of History Museum 

This will help them understand the inseparable ties between Hong Kong's past and China's modern history, and strengthen their sense of belonging to the country and national pride, he added.

The new permanent exhibition "The Story of Hong Kong Coastal Defence" in the museum’s Redoubt consists of 11 galleries.

The exhibition's themes include the introduction of military presence under successive dynasties, military arrangements, port facilities, history of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the volunteers, stories of multi-ethnic soldiers who served in Hong Kong as well as the Chinese People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison.

The number of galleries introducing the history of the War of Resistance has been increased from two to four in the revamped museum.

Museum of History Museum Director Ng Chi-wo said the new exhibition aims to illustrate the close relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland in relation to costal defense history.

“The Museum of Coastal Defence was converted from Lyemun Fort, which played a very important defensive role during the Battle of Hong Kong. When people visit this museum, they can actually experience the historical and spatial context during the war,” he said.

Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence narrates the story of Hong Kong's coastal defense after facelift. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Visitors can use the "iM Guide" mobile app to interact with exhibits and obtain more multimedia content about the exhibits through their smartphones. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

This picture shows the interactive display, "In Search of Anti-Japanese War Relics", in the "Narrative of the War of Resistance" gallery. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Twenty-four checkpoints are set up on the museum's Lyemun Fort Historical Trail, including the Torpedo Station built in a cave on the shore, the Lyemun Redoubt, various batteries and caponiers.

The renovated museum adds multimedia elements to the historical trail. Visitors can use the "iM Guide" mobile app to interact with exhibits and obtain more multimedia content about the exhibits through their smartphones.