Thursday, January 23, 2024

[In-person] The Hong Kong Jockey Club Hall, Asia Society Hong Kong Center

18:00 Registration and Reception

18:50 Welcoming Remarks

19:00 Dinner

19:45 Keynote Remarks by Prof. Rana Mitter

20:15 Dessert

20:30 Fireside Chat with Prof. Mark Spigelman and Mrs. Rachel Spigelman

21:30 End

ASHK member ticket: HKD 4,000

Non-member ticket: HKD 6,000

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Please join Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK) and the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre (HKHTC) for a memorial reception, dinner, and program commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and honoring its survivors.

ASHK and HKHTC are delighted to welcome an address (delivered via videoconference) from Professor Rana Mitter of Harvard University, a world-renowned expert on China's role and experience in World War II, on The Burdens and Lessons of History: Remembering WWII in Asia. Professor Mitter's address will provide context for our understanding of World War II and the lessons we can learn from studying and discussing this pivotal episode in human history.

We are also privileged to host a discussion with Professor Mark Spigelman, who will share his story of survival in conversation with Mr. Ronnie C. Chan, Chairman of ASHK. Professor Spigelman's account sheds light on the resilience of those who endured the Holocaust and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering history to prevent such atrocities from occurring again. Ms. Rachel Spigelman, Professor Spigelman's wife and herself the daughter of Holocaust survivors, will join the discussion to speak about her experiences chronicling Professor Spigelman's story in a new book for children titled Blue Eyes Wide Open.

As part of this commemoration, we are also proud to unveil an innovative project harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to educate and inspire in classrooms across Asia. HKHTC, in partnership with the USC Shoah Foundation, will introduce Dimensions in Testimony, an AI-driven project that features interactive testimonies from Holocaust survivors, a Nanjing massacre survivor, and a Chinese comfort woman. This pilot project, which includes the testimony of a comfort woman for the first time ever in an AI format, allows audiences to engage in real-time conversations with these remarkable individuals, ensuring their stories are heard and remembered.

In addition, guests can experience The Last Goodbye, a VR project featuring the testimony of Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter. This immersive experience transports participants to the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland, where Pinchas recounts his harrowing journey as the sole survivor of his family during the Holocaust. Viewers will walk alongside him through the camp, witnessing his poignant memories and gaining a deeper understanding of the atrocities he endured.

Join us for a special demonstration of these transformative experiences that honor the resilience of survivors and promote a deeper understanding of history.