President Xi Jinping shook hands with Hong Kong war veteran Lo King-fai and other veteran representatives on Wednesday during a ceremony in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance and the global fight against fascism.
Standing on the Tiananmen Rostrum, Xi greeted the aging fighters and expressed respect for their service and sacrifices.
Lo, now 94, was among the select group invited to the capital. He joined the guerrilla resistance as a child, fighting with the Dongjiang Column’s Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Battalion after Japanese forces occupied Hong Kong in December 1941.
Living in Sha Tau Kok, Lo’s education was cut short by the war. At just 11 years old, he became part of the children’s squad and later served in the maritime detachment, where he worked as a messenger to unit commander Wang Jin.
His family’s commitment to the resistance was extensive, with nine uncles and elders joining the revolutionary cause. Lo’s enduring ties to the military tradition have continued into the present day—he was among the guests invited to board China’s aircraft carrier Shandong during its visit to Hong Kong in July.
The veteran also took part in a symposium in Beijing on Tuesday alongside Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese representatives. Together, they reflected on the shared wartime legacy that continues to resonate across regions.
Xi’s meeting with the veterans, including Law, was viewed as a symbolic gesture of recognition for their contributions and a reminder of Hong Kong’s role in China’s resistance history.
