Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, attended the ceremony to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong organised by the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) Ontario Association and Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen’s Association (Ontario Branch) at Markham Cenotaph on December 4.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Mo first paid tribute to the Canadian battalions deployed to Hong Kong to defend the city during the Second World War. "The history of the period and the gallantry of the Canadian soldiers deserve special mention and it is an essential part of the deep historical linkage between Canada and Hong Kong," Ms Mo said.
"In Hong Kong, the Sai Wan Bay Memorial bore the names of the Canadians who died in the defence of the city, and in Ottawa a memorial wall was erected in 2009," Ms Mo continued.
"Our freedom was not given to us for free, it is by those who came before us and sacrificed so much. We will continue to thank those who volunteered and served. The Canadians who endured the Battle of Hong Kong will always be remembered," Ms Mo said.
In Vancouver, the St. John Ambulance Burnaby Division held a virtual event on December 6 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong. Director of HKETO supported the event with a video message. She noted both the St John Ambulance Burnaby Division and Hong Kong St John Ambulance are committed to building a healthier community and expressed her wish to seeing stronger ties between Hong Kong and Canada.
香港經貿處處長出席香港保衛戰八十周年紀念活動
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於十二月四日出席由皇家香港軍團（義勇軍）安省協會及香港退伍軍人聯會（安省分部）合辦在萬錦市紀念碑舉行的香港保衛戰八十周年紀念活動。
巫菀菁在紀念活動上致辭時，首先向第二次世界大戰期間派遣保衛香港的加拿大軍人致敬。巫菀菁表示：「這段歷史及英勇的加拿大軍人值得我們特別懷念，這也是加港源遠流長的歷史重要部分。」
巫菀菁續說：「在香港，西灣紀念碑上刻有為保衛香港而捐軀的加拿大人名字；另外一幅紀念牆於二ＯＯ九年在渥太華揭幕了。」
巫菀菁表示：「我們現在享有的自由是有代價的，是有賴前人作出巨大犧牲換取而來。我們將繼續向這些義勇軍人和人士致謝，更永遠不會忘記當年參與香港保衞戰的英勇加拿大人。」
在溫哥華，聖約翰救傷隊本拿比支部於十二月六日舉行了香港保衛戰八十周年網上紀念活動。香港經貿處處長透過短片致辭支持該活動。巫菀菁表示，聖約翰救傷隊本拿比支部及香港聖約翰救傷隊同樣致力創造健康社區，她祝願港加兩地繼續建立更緊密關係。
