RE
ICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNC 2180
OF 120943Z JULY 90
INFO ROUTINE TOKYO
RESTRICTED
ADVANCE COPY
142031
MDADAN 4845
LEGCO QUESTION: JAPANESE REPARATIONS
❤
1 WE HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING LEGCO QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FROM ELSIE TU:
WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL HOW MUCH HONG KONG CURRENCY IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN EXTRACTED UNDER DURESS FROM HONG KONG RESIDENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR MILITARY CURRENCY DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION, AND WHETHER CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO PROPOSING THAT THE MILITARY CURRENCY STILL HELD BY RESIDENTS BE REDEEMED, AS A MATTER OF HONOUR, BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT?
2. WE PROPOSE TO REPLY AS FOLLOWS:
1. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MUCH HONG KONG CURRENCY WAS EXTRACTED UNDER DURESS FROM HONG KONG RESIDENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR MILITARY CURRENCY DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION.
2. AS TO THE QUESTION OF REDEMPTION, AS HONG KONG IS A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR HONG KONG TO RAISE THIS MATTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN. QUESTIONS OF THIS KIND CONCERNING THE ALLEGED RESPONSIBILITY OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT IN RELATION TO CITIZENS OF HONG KONG ARE MATTERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG. CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO REFERRING THE MATTER
TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF REPRESENTATIONS BY THE REPARATION ASSOCIATION HK.
3. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION DESKBY 160OZ THAT YOU ARE CONTENT FOR US TO REFER THIS MATTER TO YOU.
WILSON
YYYY
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