Ten years ago, Angus Hui Chong-yin’s curiosity was piqued when he read a news story about old documents unearthed in a soon-to-be-demolished building in Hong Kong.
Among the salvaged items was a diary, dating back to 1944. Written in Chinese, it belonged to Lam Ping-yu, a Chinese naval officer sent to Britain for training during World War II.
“Seeing the news, I was immediately fascinated,” said Hui, who at the time, was studying Chinese history and culture at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
“I was amazed that someone local had been part of such a significant history event. I was captivated by Lam and imagined what his life was like.”
After digitalizing the documents, Lam began to study them with another history enthusiast, John Mak Hiu-fai.
The diary turned out to be the only known primary evidence of Chinese soldiers having travelled to Europe to take part in the D-Day landings in France during the second world war.
This discovery highlighted the bravery of Chinese soldiers, who are often overlooked in this part of history.
Beyond sharing details of the war, Lam’s diary also reveals his personal story, filled with excitement, anger, frustration and envy.
Last year, Hui and Mak’s exhibition at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, “Lost and Found in Hong Kong: The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day”, garnered widespread recognition for its historical value.
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“We uncovered so much content from the old documents which allowed us to curate the exhibition in many layers,” said Mak, who has a master’s degree in public policy and international development from the University of Chicago.
In 1911, Lam was born to a Chinese family in Indonesia. He joined China’s navy and was one of only 24 Chinese naval officers sent to Britain for training during World War II, which spanned from 1939 to 1945.
This global conflict involved most of the world’s nations divided into two opposing military alliances – the Allies and the Axis powers.
On June 6, 1944, the Allied forces launched D-Day, a massive invasion of German-occupied France, marking the beginning of the liberation of western Europe.
Lam’s diary contains first-hand stories about the role of Chinese soldiers in this operation. After the war ended, Lam settled in Hong Kong until the late 1960s, when he moved to Italy, Brazil and the US, and left behind his diary.
The officer also documented his personal ups and downs, revealing his ambitions and explaining what prompted him to join the navy at a young age. There was an old letter that hinted at a possible romance and sparked speculation about the woman’s identity.
Through Lam’s narrative, we glimpse his emotions about the war, his longing for home, and his reflections on war and peace.
“These are all very interesting stories that show Lam’s thoughts and ask us to reflect on the cost of war,” Mak said.
More importantly, Lam’s story is part of world history, and it is a testament to Hong Kong’s long-standing connections with the rest of the world.
“It shows that while the city may not necessarily be the protagonist, it always has a front-row seat bearing witness to the making of world history,” Mak said.
“[The documents] pose fundamental questions: what was Hong Kong like then? How do we define its role today? And in this vast narrative, what can one person do?”
Mak stressed the importance of preserving and sharing stories like Lam’s.
“This information shouldn’t stay in ivory towers; it deserves a wider audience,” he said.
A passion for history
Hui’s academic path first began with his interest in Hong Kong local culture and heritage.
After graduating from HKU, he continued researching the documents while pursuing an MPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Chinese Studies) at the University of Cambridge.
Now 30, Hui recalled his parents’ doubts about his decision to study history over science in secondary school, but he was sure of his passion.
“I just really love history, and I knew I had to choose this subject no matter what,” he said.
“I feel that history isn’t just something that happened in the past ... It affects how we see the world, connect with it and connect with the people around us.”
Hui added history’s true value lies in its lessons that prompt reflection on the relationship between individuals and society.
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He hopes Lam’s diary can inspire more historical research and emphasise the importance of curiosity.
“Extraordinary stories by ordinary people deserve to be explored and shared,” Hui said.
For the next six months, the young researchers are sharing Lam’s story with more people as they take the documents on a tour of the United Kingdom and France.
During this trip, they aim to broaden their research on the role of Chinese soldiers in the war, hoping to connect with more veterans, researchers and people with stories.
They also seek to bring even more of Lam’s story back home, while inspiring others to uncover more details about his incredible journey.
Mak said, “History research does not belong only to academia or scholars; there are a lot of unknowns in every corner waiting to be uncovered. The most important thing is to be curious.”
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Stop and think: Why is Lam Ping-yu’s diary so historically significant?
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Why this story matters: World War II had profound effects on the course of history, shaping the political landscape of the modern world. Thus, seeing the role of Hongkongers in different parts of the conflict can help us learn about this historical event from a new perspective.
