Current condition
In use
Date completed
Notes from Wikipedia:
At the southern entrance to the gardens, at Upper Albert Road, is a memorial arch dedicated to the Chinese who died assisting the Allies during the two World Wars. The inscription on the lintel reads: "In Memory of the Chinese who died loyal to the Allied cause in the Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945". The granite arch in the shape of a paifang was erected in 1928. Reference to the Second World War was added later.
Photos that show this Place
1928
1940s
1957
Comments
Chinese War memorial
Moddsey writes:
Unveiled by Governor Clementi on 6 May 1928.
Henry Ching writes:
I would be most grateful for any information anyone can give me on how this memorial came to be erected.
My understanding (which may well be wrong) is that it was the result of a public fundraising campaign by leaders of the Chinese community in HK, but I note that some commentators attribute it to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as one of their memorials.
The inscription on the memorial does not include names, although I believe the CWGC kept a record of names of Chinese who gave their lives serving with the allied forces in WW1, the majority of whom were not HK men but came mostly from north China to join the Labour Corps – there are however some HK men named who came from the New Territories to become seamen. As far as I know the CWGC’s record of names had nothing to do with the memorial gateway, and the names certainly do not appear to include HK Chinese who gave their lives in the defence of HK in WW2.
Re: Chinese War Memorial
For reference. The Pre-WWII inscription at the top of the arch read:
ERECTED BY THE IMPERIAL WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
IN MEMORY OF THE CHINESE
IN THE SERVICE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
WHO DIED THROUGH ENEMY ACTION
DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918