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Politics

Hong Kong's WWII memories evolve 80 years after fall on Christmas

Scholars find new ways to tell local war story, while Beijing narrative slips in

Lawrence Lai Wai-chung, professor at the University of Hong Kong, makes frequent trips to former military installations around the city as part of his research, aiming to raise awareness of their historical value. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)

HONG KONG -- Exactly 80 years ago on Christmas, Hong Kong came under Japanese occupation following an 18-day battle.

As raw memories of the World War II era fade, local scholars and historians are shedding new light on the city's wartime past. At the same time, Beijing's tightening control over Hong Kong's society and politics is beginning to affect how those days are commemorated.

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