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

Director of the Department of Home Affairs cum Chairman of Hoang Sa Island District People's Committee Vo Ngoc Dong (right) giving a gift to Mr. Pham So (middle). Photo: TRONG HUY

Organised by the Hoang Sa Islands District authorities on January 19 on which 50 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.

Director Dong visited Mr. Pham So, residing in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District, who once built a rainwater reservoir to provide fresh water for staff of the Meteorological Centre and local navy soldiers on duty on the Hoang Sa Island, and Mr. Truong Van Quang, residing in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, who supplied food to meteorological staff and navy soldiers on the island.

Director of the Department of Home Affairs cum Chairman of Hoang Sa Island District People's Committee Vo Ngoc Dong (right) and Mr. Truong Van Quang who has visited the Hoang Sa Archipelago for more than 10 times. Photo: TRONG HUY

Mr Dong extended his best Tet wishes to the Hoang Sa witnesses, and hoped that they will continue educating younger generations to be get actively engaged in safeguarding the national sovereignty. He also presented yearbooks about the Hoang Sa Archipelago to the witnesses, aiming to facilitate young generations today and tomorrow to have a deeper awareness of Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

Previously, Mr. Dong visited and burnt incense for Mr. Tran Van Hao. Mr. Hao joined the local army in the Quang Nam Sub-Region unit. In 1968, he went to the Hoang Sa Island on duty. He and his comrades were arrested by Chinese soldiers on January 19, 1974, and then were detained on the Hainan Island for three months. After that, he were taken to Hong Kong and returned to Viet Nam.

On the occasion, a group of officials from the People's Committee of Hoang Sa Island District also visited alive witnesses and relatives of deceased witnesses in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces.

Reporting by TRONG HUY - Translating by M.DUNG