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The Senior Non-Expatriate Officers Association has not made any such request.

At this stage, we have no plan to review the remuneration package of policy secretaries.

Obligations for compensation discharged

Following is a question by the Hon Tsang Kin-sing and a reply by the acting Secretary for Security, Mrs Carrie Yau, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

As the British rule over the territory will end on June 30, 1997, will the Government inform this Council whether, prior to that date, the British Government will demand that the Japanese Government formally apologise to the people of Hong Kong for the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in the territory during the Second World War, and make reparations in this regard?

Reply:

Mr President,

We fully understand the strength of feeling on this issue. We note that former Prime Minister Murayama made a statement of apology for Japan's wartime past in a speech on the VJ (Victory in Japan) Day anniversary last year. On the question of compensation, we confirm that the matter was referred to the British Government for consideration when the matter was last raised in this Council in December 1990 and November 1992. The British Government advised that the Japanese Government had fully discharged their obligations for compensation under the Treaty of Peace with Japan signed by the United Kingdom and other Allied Powers in San Francisco in 1951. It is therefore not open to the British Government to raise the matter with the Japanese Government.

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