The Kinkaseki prisoner of war camp (Kinkaseki #1) was opened on November 14, 1942. The initial POWs arrived from Singapore after its capture by Japan. Over 1,100 Allied (mostly British) POWs would be held in the camp, forced to work in the mines. The camp mines were closed in March 1945, as transport of copper to the Japanese home islands become infeasible due to Allied naval power. The POWs were relocated to Kukutsu POW Camp in Hsintien (Xindian District) by late June of 1945.