TNAG-2400-FCO40-3487-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1992 — Page 43

visions of the Treaty were binding on Hong Kong." There is refore o legal justification for us to approach the Japanese ernment on this issue.

It

It is of course open to us to make a political approach to the anese. But the Reparation Association's case is not strong. decided during the war that no value should be given to any

anese currency introduced under Japanese occupation, in part

ause this might expose British currency to heavy inflationary

ssures from the very large amounts of currency circulated by the

anese, and also because non-recognition would discredit Japanese

ency and cast doubt on the question of how long Japan would be

e to maintain its control of its areas of occupation. There was difficulty about enforcing this policy in Hong Kong after the end hostilities. A démarche after forty-five years is unlikely to

ry much weight.

*

The Reparation Association has approached the Japanese

horities on this issue. But it is very unlikely that the

anese Government will be prepared to accommodate their belated

ition. I do not believe that it is worth our pressing them. On e

the reasons for demonetising the currency at the end of the war

that large accumulations of it were considered to be a result of her profiteering or collaboration. There are more deserving didates for belated Japanese reparations namely, former

soners of War and their dependents whose cases the Japanese

ernment are equally unlikely to satisfy after so many years.

www

Janiau

DA Warren

Far Eastern Department

WH245

270 2949