On Wednesday morning, Director of the Da Nang Department of Home Affairs cum Chairman of the Hoang Sa Islands District People's Committee Vo Ngoc Dong visited some historical witnesses who once served on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago over the historical periods.

Director of the Da Nang Department of Home Affairs cum Chairman of the Hoang Sa Islands District People's Committee Vo Ngoc Dong (right) presenting a Tet gift to Mr Pham So, residing in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District, who once served on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago in the past. Photo: L.P

During his visits, Director Dong burned incense in commemoration of the deceased witnesses, and presented Tet gifts to the surviving witnesses. He expressed his hope that the surviving witnesses continued to live longer and always set a shining example for the younger generations to follow.

Organised by the Hoang Sa Islands District authorities on January 19 on which 48 years ago China used force to illegally occupy the islands, the activity aimed to raise the public awareness of protecting Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Archipelago.

Earlier, on January 18, some representatives from the Hoang Sa Islands District People's Committee burned incense to pay tribute to deceased Hoang Sa witnesses, and visited some surviving witnesses, in Quang Nam Province.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG