Canada commemorates Hong Kong battle veterans

A monument was unveiled in Ottawa Saturday to commemorate some 2,000 Canadian soldiers who fought in defense of Hong Kong, China against the Japanese during WWII.

Names of every soldier was etched on the granite wall, which was unveiled by government officials including International Trade Minister Stockwell Day, whose grandfather was also at the war.

In 1941 the Canadian soldiers fought in Hong Kong for 17 days against the overwhelming Japanese. Without air cover, lacking heavy weapons and transport, the defense was a hopeless cause from the start.

The men fought on fiercely before surrendering on Christmas Day. About 290 died in the fighting and the rest were held captive under horrible conditions. Another 300 died as they were starved and tortured by their captors until the war ended four years later.

Only about 90 of the veterans are still alive, and some were healthy enough to attend the ceremony.

Saturday's unveiling took place on the 64th anniversary of the end of WWII.