Starting Wednesday, Hong Kong will host an exhibition themed on Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), featuring 183 wartime cultural relics — a third of which are being shown in the city for the first time.

Officials at the opening ceremony called on residents to remember history, cherish the hard-won peace, and unite for a better tomorrow.

The exhibition, under the theme of “United in Arms, Standing for Peace”, will run through Dec 15 at the Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH). Entry is free. Jointly organized by cultural institutions from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, 82 pieces come from the National Museum of China’s collection, including eight grade one national treasures. The other items are sourced from local collectors and cultural institutions such as HKMH.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Chief Executive warns against glorifying history of invasion

Several high-ranking officials from the central and special administrative region governments attended the opening ceremony, including Wang Songmiao, secretary-general of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

During his address, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki highlighted the sacrifices made by our ancestors who built a “Great Wall” to defend the nation with their lives, symbolizing unwavering national will and patriotism. He invited the public, especially young people, to visit this exhibition. He said he hopes that through this exhibition, the public can better commemorate this remarkable yet poignant history, cherish the hard-earned peace, and work together to create a better future.

The nation will celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory of Japan’s unconditional surrender and the end of the World Anti-Fascist War, Chan said, noting that the SAR government will host various commemorative and educational activities. These include visits to wartime sites, workshops, film screenings, and book fairs. He added that the government is renovating wartime sites across districts throughout Hong Kong to deepen residents’ understanding of the country’s history.

Speaking at a media preview of the exhibition, Deputy Director of the National Museum of China Yang Fan said that the 82 items from the National Museum hold distinctive historical narrative value, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of wartime history. The exhibition will portray Hong Kong’s contributions in safeguarding the country during wartime, director of the HKMH Joyce Ho Wai-yee said. Scenes from internment camps in Hong Kong during the three-year Japanese occupation will be reconstructed.

READ MORE: First patriotic education base for HK, Macao youth opened in Beijing

The exhibition is one of two large-scale thematic exhibitions in a series of commemorative events initiated by the SAR government. Another exhibition, focusing on the wartime history of Guangdong and Hong Kong regions, will take place from Friday through July 8 at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com