Audience watch The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2023. A special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held here on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Li Ying)
LONDON, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- A special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held here on Tuesday.
Some 400 relatives of the British prisoners of war (POWs) on board the Lisbon Maru were invited to attend the special screening.
In October 1942, "Lisbon Maru," a cargo vessel, requisitioned by the Japanese army to carry more than 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, was hit by the U.S. army off the Zhoushan Islands, China's Zhejiang province. Over 300 POWs were rescued by local Chinese fishermen.
Alison Fisk, whose grandfather was among the POWs, came to watch the documentary with her son. Fisk told Xinhua that it's important to keep remembering and keep telling the story.
Retired British soldier Brian Finch, who has been committed to collecting the historical documents on the Lisbon Maru, said the documentary exposed the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers and showed the incredible courage and humanity of the Chinese fishermen.
In remarks delivered after the screening, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said, "In the fight against fascist aggressors, China and the UK were allies and the Lisbon Maru Incident is one of the best examples of people from both countries supporting each other at difficult times."
Zheng noted that history must not be forgotten and called for joint effort to carry forward the shared remembrance and turn it into a new linchpin for friendship between the Chinese and British people.
Fang Li, producer of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, said that through the documentary he aimed to display the impact of the war on the families of the POWs, the atrocities of the Japanese aggressors as well as the heroism and humanity of the Chinese fishermen. ■
Production team members pose for photos with audience after a special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2023. A special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held here on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Li Ying)
Retired British soldier Brian Finch, who has been committed to collecting the historical documents on the Lisbon Maru, speaks during a special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2023. A special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held here on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Li Ying)
Retired British soldier Brian Finch, who has been committed to collecting the historical documents on the Lisbon Maru, speaks during a special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2023. A special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held here on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Li Ying)
Audience attend a special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2023. A special screening of the documentary of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru was held here on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Li Ying)
