Lam Chun, 91, one of Hong Kong’s last surviving guerrilla veterans, recalled her experiences fighting alongside Communist Party of China (CPC)-led guerrilla forces during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong from 1943 to 1945. As president of the Society of the Veterans of the Original Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, Lam has spent much of her life preserving the memory of the struggle that helped shape the city’s history.

Lam’s involvement began in childhood after Japanese soldiers raided her family’s home in Kowloon City in May 1943, accusing her older sister of stealing military currency. In reality, her sister was secretly gathering intelligence for the CPC-led resistance. Lam described the trauma of witnessing her sister being severely beaten during the raid, an event that galvanized her to join the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade, part of the Dongjiang Column, alongside her mother and brother.

Joining at age eight, Lam initially served as a messenger before taking on nursing duties. Life with the guerrillas was arduous; medical supplies such as gauze were scarce and had to be reused multiple times, and harsh winters brought physical suffering. Despite these hardships, Lam recalled the solidarity among fighters, including a blind comrade who encouraged her by promising that future victories would bring real medical care.

Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, Lam returned to Hong Kong to continue her education. She later moved to mainland China, where she taught physical education until her retirement. She credits the CPC’s leadership and popular support for the ultimate defeat of the occupying forces and stresses the importance of remembering the sacrifices made for peace and stability.

With July 1 marking the 105th anniversary of the CPC’s founding and the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China, Lam emphasized the need for younger generations to understand the historical context behind the city’s current prosperity. She warned against complacency, urging youth to pursue advanced scientific knowledge and actively contribute to national development and defense modernization efforts as outlined in the upcoming five-year development plan for Hong Kong. This plan aims to align the region’s growth with the broader goals of China’s national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

Lam hopes that young people will appreciate the welfare they enjoy today by acknowledging the struggles of previous generations and maintaining the “spirit of the ordinary Chinese.” She stated, “With the central government’s leadership and a strategic direction, we’re a people who love peace, but we’re also a people who can fight,” highlighting the resilience and confidence that underpin this spirit.