The Second World War 第二次世界大戰

The people of Hong Kong suffered deeply during the Second World War when Japan invaded and occupied the city. At this time, Loke Yew Hall was still known as the Great Building, the oldest structure at HKU and today a declared monument. Following the outbreak of war, it served as a relief hospital, while timber from the roof was later used for fuel. Its transformation from an ornate ceremonial structure was remarked on: it had become a “roofless skeleton, stripped of equipment, furnishing and fittings, floors and stairs”. 第二次世界大戰期間，日軍入侵及佔領香港，香港市民飽受煎熬。陸佑堂彼時名為大禮堂， 戰時曾被用作救濟醫院，屋頂的木材於後期則被用作燃料燒毀，與之前華美莊重的設計大相逕庭，只剩下失去頂蓋的支架，各類設備、裝飾、佈置、地板與台階被毀。陸佑堂是港大最古老的建築，如今已被列為法定古蹟。