The Museum of History said its new exhibition will be the most comprehensive that the city has organised in commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The exhibition, which opens on Wednesday, will feature more than 180 historical relics, with 82 of them being items from the National Museum of China, including eight grade-one national treasures.

There are a total of eight themes, with one focusing on the Communist Party of China as the mainstay of the war and another highlighting Hong Kong's contributions towards the eventual victory.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said the artefacts, archival images and documents bore witness to the history of the anti-Japanese war.

"[They] restore the historical truth in the wartime period, fully demonstrate the role of the Communist Party of China as the backbone, and Hong Kong's contributions to the war, showcasing the deep relationship between Hong Kong compatriots and the people of the motherland," he said.

Museum curator Osmond Chan said he hopes visitors could learn to value peace.

“We want to bring out the message to the audience that they need to learn that it is not easy to win the war," he said.

"Our predecessors fought for 14 years to win the war, and [people should] cherish the peace.

“We hope that the public, after visiting the exhibition, will be able to learn that the war is hard-won, and they will treasure the stability and prosperity of our country nowadays.”

Assistant curator Nelson Chow said one thing that couldn't be missed at the exhibition is the Dadao sabre used by Chinese soldiers in the Battle of Taierzhuang, which he said illustrates how the soldiers fought fiercely against the Japanese.

The free exhibition runs until December 15.

Another local exhibition commemorating the war victory will open at the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence on Friday.