學術研究

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The Battle of Hong Kong (8-25 December 1941) is the most significant military engagement in modern Hong Kong history. The battle has received much scholarly attention, but it has been a challenge for researchers to relate the spatial and temporal dimensions of the battle with the events, the people’s experience, and the hundreds of war ruins that still exist.

Dr. Kwong Chi Man has published six books and journal articles on the topic. From 2020, his team has been working on the “Battle of Hong Kong 1941: A Spatial History Project” and uses geographic information systems (GIS) to build a web map and a database of the related information about the battle. His work, especially the spatial history project, changes how this part of history and the related built heritage are being conserved, curated, and taught.

Impact on Policy

The spatial history project changes how built heritage related to battle are being conserved and curated. The research team has been in touch with the Development Bureau for the sharing of data so that the database can be used in urban planning and construction works. The Agricultural and Fisheries Department also entrusts the team to design explanation panels on the No. 5 Section of the MacLehose Trail with QR code’s that would allow the hikers and tourists to have instant access to the interactive map to read the details about the military ruins along the trail.

Impact on Education

The project also changes how this part of history is being taught. Teachers in Hong Kong will use the interactive web map (and its classroom version) to prepare and deliver their lessons and plan for outdoor study trips. The project also changes how teachers and students approach the Battle of Hong Kong story from a text-based narrative to a spatial approach that focuses on the interactive map and the database.

Impact on Knowledge Transfer

Since its inception in August 2021, the interactive map has had around 40,000 views. It is now on display at the Geospatial Laboratory of the Development Bureau, which is also open to the public. The Museum of Coastal Defence is also considering using it as part of the exhibition. The project changes how this battle is being curated in museums and exhibitions as the interactive map becomes the focus rather than photos and texts.