New Museum Attempts to Evoke Patriotism

Lee officially opens a museum dedicated to Chinese resistance

The patriotism drum is beating louder in Hong Kong these days.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is leading the way by opening yet another museum, this time marking the Chinese resistance against the Japanese invasion in the lead-up to World War II.

The Hong Kong Sha Tau Kok Anti-War Memorial Hall was hailed by Lee as "a base for patriotic education".

The museum is in the Luo ancestral home

Shivers are running down people's backs reading this.

The museum is located at the Luo family ancestral home, because this was the base used by resistance fighters.

On social media Lee hailed the museum as "a base for patriotic education, which will facilitate national education, deepen citizens' understanding of Chinese history and enhance their recognition for the country".

At the opening ceremony, he said people displayed their love for the country when they defended its soil decades ago, "encouraging the people of China to fight for a great renaissance of the Chinese race".

Apparently this is a well-worn phrase used by mainland officials to refer to China's modern development.

But it is only natural for people to defend their country when it is under attack. One contemporary example is Ukraine fighting against the Russians now. Romanticising war as a bid to revive the Chinese race is melodramatic...

Lee says museum is "a base for patriotic education"

Nevertheless, the Chief Executive added the Hong Kong government "attaches great importance to the history marking the victory of the resistance and will let the public understand its role and all the stories during the war," he said.

What victory is he talking about?

In the Battle of Hong Kong, the allied forces of the British, Canadians and Indians tried to prevent the Japanese invasion, but the city fell on December 25, 1941. How is that a victory? 

Only when the Americans dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945 respectively, did the occupation end.

But perhaps this is how one whitewashes history and insists on this victorious narrative complete with a physical building as proof. In 2014 the National People's Congress declared September 3 as "Victory Day".

When researching this museum, it should be noted only mainland Chinese state media mentioned its opening...