牧者心聲
炮台山和聖誕日
周曉暉牧師
2024 年 12 月 21 日 / 22 日
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炮台山地鐵站背後的山，其實是北角半山。炮台山此名取自曾在堡壘街山丘上的炮台。這些炮台鮮有使用的機會，一直到1941年12月。當時日軍已攻破新界及九龍的防線，正準備登陸港島。由於調景嶺到筲箕灣是橫度維港的較短海路，所以日軍便敲定循此登陸。但這些在港島東半山的炮台卻阻延了日軍的進擊。然而，日軍還是登陸了港島，與防衛軍發生激戰。打了18日，港督於1941年12月25日聖誕日下午決定投降，史稱「黑色聖誕日」，開啟香港三年零八個月的悲慘歲月。
這聖誕日是香港保衛戰中最慘烈的一天。日軍與盟軍在黃泥涌峽等多處山嶺激戰，頑抗日軍的軍隊包括一批由加拿大來港參戰共1,975人的軍團，18日的戰事加上後來集中營的日子，能活著離開香港的只剩1,418人。
70多年後，老兵道曲奇（Philip Doddridge）仍然難忘一位名叫奧士本（John Robert Osborn）士官的事蹟。1日軍向防衛軍碉堡投擲多枚手榴彈，奧士本拾起兩枚丟回日軍那裡；眼見另一枚快將爆炸，奧士本以身軀覆蓋手榴彈，選擇犧牲自己救回身邊至少六名隊友的性命。今天在香港公園的一尊士兵銅像，就是記念他的。
在另一個二戰紀念活動裡，有一小孩問當日參與香港保衛戰的加拿大老兵麥拿倫（Ralph MacLean）：「如果重來一次，你還會去香港打仗嗎？」這名年屆94歲的老兵回答得簡單而深刻，他說：「Yes, for you.（為了你，我會。）」2
這群與香港無甚關係的加拿大士兵，竟為香港犧牲，值得敬佩。那麼，神的兒子為了你和我、為了全世界降世而犧牲，更不可忽略。
老兵道曲奇回憶當年在赤柱戰鬥中度過的黑色聖誕日，後來他被俘關進北角集中營（現今七姊妹道附近）。他隨身物品中有一本在離家前母親送的聖經。他說這聖經成為他44個月戰俘生涯最重要的支撐。至於老兵麥拿倫縱然飽受日軍折磨，和平後，他卻准許女兒嫁給一名日裔加拿大人。他表示，這是因為信靠耶穌。因著耶穌，他選擇寬恕。
是啊！聖誕的意義，毫不深奧。不就是「神愛世人」和「基督降世為要拯救罪人」的真理嗎？
The hill behind the Fortress Hill MTR station is actually the North Point Mid-Levels. The name Fortress Hill comes from the cannons that were once stationed on the hill above Fort Street. These cannons were rarely used until December 1941. At that time, the Japanese forces had breached the defenses in the New Territories and Kowloon and were preparing to land on Hong Kong Island. As Tiu Keng Leng to Shau Kei Wan was the shorter sea route to cross the Victoria Harbor, the Japanese decided to use it as the landing spot. However, the cannons at the Mid-Levels of eastern Hong Kong Island delayed their advance. Despite this, the Japanese managed to land Hong Kong Island and engage in fierce battles with the defenders. After 18 days of fighting, in the afternoon of Christmas Day, December 25, 1941, the Hong Kong Governor decided to surrender. That day, remembered as "Black Christmas," marked the beginning of three years and eight months of horrendous Japanese occupation.
That Christmas Day was the most devastating day of the Battle of Hong Kong. Heavy fighting between the Japanese forces and the Hong Kong garrison took place on hills like Wong Nai Chung Gap. Among the defending forces were 1,975 soldiers who came to Hong Kong from Canada. After 18 days of battle and subsequent days in concentration camps, only 1,418 were able to leave Hong Kong alive.
Over 70 years later, veteran Philip Doddridge still remembers the heroic acts of Sergeant John Robert Osborn. 3 During an assault on the defenders' bunker, Japanese forces threw several grenades. Osborn picked up two and threw them back at the attackers. When another grenade was about to explode, he shielded it with his body. He chose to sacrifice himself to save at least six of his comrades. Today, a bronze statue in Hong Kong Park commemorates him.
At another WWII memorial event, a child asked Ralph MacLean, an aged Canadian veteran who had fought in the Battle of Hong Kong, "If you had the chance to do it again, would you still go to Hong Kong to fight?" His answer was simple yet profound: "Yes, for you." 2
These Canadian soldiers, who had little connection to Hong Kong, sacrificed themselves for Hong Kong. They are truly admirable. In the same way, the Son of God, who came into the world to sacrifice for you, for me, and for all humanity, must not be overlooked.
Veteran Philip Doddridge recalls spending that "Black Christmas" fighting in Stanley. Later, he was imprisoned in the North Point concentration camp (near today's Tsat Tsz Mui Road). Among his belongings was a Bible his mother had given him before he left home. He said that Bible became his most important support during his 44 months as a prisoner of war. Despite having to endure torture by the Japanese, another veteran, Ralph MacLean, allowed his daughter to marry a Japanese-Canadian after the war ended. He expressed that that was because of his faith in Jesus. Because of Jesus, he chose to forgive.
Indeed! The meaning of Christmas is not difficult to understand. Is it not in the truth "God so loved the world" and "Christ came into the world to save sinners"
1 《【香港保衛戰75週年】從魁北克到深水埗，加拿大衛港老兵親述戰俘歲月》，見 https://www.mpweekly.com/culture/cu0001/人物專訪-抗日戰爭-深水埗-17665
2 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3317156/Heartwarming-moment-war-veteran-tells-little-girl-d-fightfreedom.html
3 See Chinese article at https://www.mpweekly.com/culture/cu0001/人物專訪-抗日戰爭-深水埗-17665
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