CONFIDENTIAL
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4.
In August the Governor commissioned an independent report on this subject. It was written by a Senior Administrative
Offier, who had had no previous involvement in the matter, and
was submitted on 30 September. The main conclusions were that
the Hong Kong Government's treatment of Ex-Far East POWS was
both fair and reasonable, that pensions had been paid at the
same rates and on the same conditions as in the UK and that the
medical treatment given compared favourably with the UK.
The main recommendation made, which was accepted by the meeting on 2 November, was that, having regard to the right of every resident to appeal to the Governor, aggrieved applicants under the Volunteer and Naval Pensions Ordinance could appeal to him,
and that he would where appropriate seek advice from the
Executive Council before making a decision.
5.
On 11 November the Chief Secretary announced publicly the existence of the report, its conclusions and the changes that had been made and said that he hoped the subject could now be
closed. This announcement was, however, greeted with considerable scepticism and outrage by the POW groups and some sections of the media.
Hong Kong and General Department
December 1982
CONFIDENTIAL