Chinese President Xi Jinping praised 94-year-old Hong Kong war veteran Lo King-fai as “an old hero” during a grand military parade held in Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Lo was personally greeted with a handshake by the Chinese leader in Tiananmen Square yesterday.
Xi paid tribute to six surviving veterans of the wartime era, including Lo, referring to him as “an old hero” and expressing deep respect for their contributions ahead of the ceremony.
“It was the happiest day of my life,” Lo told an interview on Wednesday.
Living in Nam Chung Lo Uk village in Sha Tau Kok, Lo joined the Hong Kong-Kowloon Independent Battalion of the East River (Dongjiang) Column in 1941, the same year Japan invaded and occupied Hong Kong.
Today, fewer than 20 members of the battalion remain alive, according to Lo.
This marks the third time Lo has been invited to attend a major commemorative parade in Beijing, having previously participated in the events in 1999 and 2015.
“As a Navy veteran, I pay close attention to the Navy’s new equipment. I’ve noticed significant improvements in ships, missiles, and aircraft,” he said.
“Our victory came at the cost of 25 million compatriots’ lives. We must cherish the peace we enjoy today,” Lo added.
