Andrew Salmon joined the British Army at fourteen and survived the sinking of the Lisbon Maru. Join his son, Ken Salmon, for the story behind Surviving the Lisbon Maru, a biography tracing his father’s experiences of captivity and his lasting connection with Hong Kong.
Taken prisoner when Hong Kong fell on Christmas Day 1941, Andrew was held at Shamshuipo Camp before boarding the Lisbon Maru. In October 1942, the ship, carrying 1,816 British prisoners of war to Japan, was torpedoed by an American submarine off China’s coast. Andrew survived but endured forced labour in Kobe and Osaka until the war’s end.
Drawing on his father’s unfinished manuscript, diaries and letters, Ken brings a personal perspective to this remarkable life. Attending the 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival premiere of The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru renewed his determination to complete the book, published on Andrew’s birthday, 29 July 2026. Discover Andrew’s life after captivity, including 25 years with Hong Kong’s Prisons Department (now called Correctional Services Department) and retirement as Senior Superintendent. By then, he had spent almost 40 of his 55 years in Hong Kong, beginning in 1935.
The Speaker
The only son of a Lisbon Maru survivor, Ken was born and raised in Hong Kong by his expatriate British father (Andrew) and Chinese mother (Lina). A proud KGV School alumnus, he graduated with an Honours Degree in Computer Science from the University of Essex. His first job was as an engineer in computer hardware design for Digital Equipment Corp. He remained in the office automation industry for a total of 37 years, the latter 25 years in a variety of Marketing roles for Xerox Corp. including an assignment to China, based in Hong Kong as an expatriate for two years in 1996-97. He has been happily retired since 2011 and lives in rural NE Hampshire in the UK with his wife (Trish). They have two children (Vicki & Barry), and two granddaughters (Sophia & Laila).
(source: Earnshaw Books)
PROGRAMME
Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
(Reception starts at 6:30 pm)
Venue: Café 8, Roof, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Pier 8, Central
Admission: $175 for members, $220 for guests /non-members
(Light refreshments are included in the admission fee)
Registration: Please email <membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk> and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration. Please kindly complete your registration by advance payment via Stripe's payment links below (using your Credit Card):
Members ($175):
https://buy.stripe.com/3cIaEYg7WfIQ2uD5JT5EY3M
Non-member / Guest ($220):
https://buy.stripe.com/bJe28sg7WdAI0mv2xH5EY3N
Details about the other payment option will be sent on registration. Upon receipt of payment, your registration will be confirmed by email. Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 9 November 2026.