TNAG-2223-FCO40-3194-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1991 — Page 84

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FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 103

OF 171515Z JANUARY 91

AND TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO

INFO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG

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HKB 020 12.

3390/HK802012.

(3)

130004

MDHOAN 5826

выстре

Me

FCO TELNO 1729 OF 18 SEPTEMBER: REPARATION ASSOCIATION HK

1.

WE HAVE LOOKED VERY CAREFULLY INTO THE BACKGROUND TO THE REPARATION ASSOCIATION'S CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. IT IS CLEAR FROM OUR RESEARCH THAT THERE ARE NO LEGAL GROUNDS FOR RAISING THIS MATTER WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT. NOR DOES IT SEEM TO US THAT THE JAPANESE ARE LIKELY TO BE PERSUADED BY POLITICAL PRESSURE TO ACCEPT A MORAL OBLIGATION.

2. SO FAR AS WE CAN ESTABLISH, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ASSOCIATION'S CLAIM THAT HOLDERS OF JAPANESE MILITARY CURRENCY IN OTHER PARTS OF SOUTH EAST ASIA RECEIVED COMPENSATION. NOR HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO TRACE THE SOURCE OF THE INDICATIONS MENTIONED IN TUR THAT THE BANK OF JAPAN MIGHT BE PREPARED TO HONOUR THEIR OWN WARTIME BANK NOTES. ALTHOUGH THE REPARATION ASSOCIATION HAVE PETITIONED THE JAPANESE CONSULATE-GENERAL IN HONG KONG AND THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ARE REPORTED TO BE CONSIDERING THEIR RESPONSE (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 5 DECEMBER), IT THEREFORE SEEMS TO US MOST UNLIKELY THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PREPARED TO MOVE ON THIS ISSUE.

3.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPELLED TO DECLINE THE REQUESTS OF FORMER UK PRISONERS OF WAR AND THEIR DEPENDENTS TO PRESS THE JAPANESE FOR FURTHER COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SUFFERING

IN JAPANESE POW CAMPS.

4. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO SUBMIT A DEPARTMENTAL REPLY EXPLAINING THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO TAKE UP THE REPARATION ASSOCIATION'S CLAIM WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT. A COPY IS BEING FAXED TO BRADLEY (HONG KONG) AND FRY (TOKYO). GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS BY 21 JANUARY.

HURD

YYYY

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