18
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4,
1992
SYMPATHY FOR WAR VICTIMS
* * * * *
THE
HONG
THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DAVID NENDICK, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT BOTH HONG KONG AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS SYMPATHISED GREATLY WITH THOSE WHO SUFFERED LOSS AND HARDSHIP IN KONG DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION.
THE
HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO STANDING TO PRESS BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE MATTER UP FURTHER WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
IN A WRITTEN
REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SZETO WAH, MR NENDICK SAID WHEN THE MATTER WAS LAST RAISED IN THE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 1990, IT WAS REFERRED TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION,
IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 25 LAST YEAR FROM THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO THE HONG KONG
THE REPARATION ASSOCIATION, BRITISH GOVERNMENT ADVISED THAT UNDER THE TREATY OF PEACE WITH JAPAN SIGNED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER ALLIED POWERS IN SAN FRANCISCO IN
FULL 1951, THE SUMS RECEIVED AT THE TIME WOULD BE RECOGNISED AS A DISCHARGE BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS.
THE 1951 PEACE TREATY APPLIED TO HONG KONG.
"THE VICTIMS THEMSELVES ARE, OF COURSE, FREE TO PURSUE ANY
CLAIMS DIRECTLY WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
"IF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT DECIDED OF THEIR OWN WILL TO MAKE SOME COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF SUCH CLAIMS, WE ARE SURE THIS WOULD BE WELCOMED, HE ADDED.
Th
NEW COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE HOME-SCHOOL CO-OPERATION
* *
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO SET UP A NEW STANDING COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON WAYS ΤΟ PROMOTE POSITIVE ATTITUDES AMONG HEADMASTERS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS TOWARDS HOME-SCHOOL CO-OPERATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD EARMARKED $5 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE.
A
THESE ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE CONDUCTING A SURVEY TO INVESTIGATE CURRENT PERCEPTIONS OF HOME-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS; DRAWING UP STATEMENT OF THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS, SCHOOLS STUDENTS IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS; PRODUCING TRAINING MATERIALS TEACHERS AND PARENTS; AND DISBURSING PROJECT GRANTS TO SCHOOLS.
AND
FOR
/MR CHAN
Page 20Page 21