TNAG-2776-FCO40-3993-Hong-Kong-questions-for-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-on-c-1993 — Page 21

Your reference:

26 November 1993

25 in SEC12/1/35

7.a. 011/1.

John Dean Esq Security Branch

Hong Kong Government

Dear John, эти,

COMFORT WOMEN

Surbs

faux 29.11

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

2702655

London SWIA 2AH

25

RECE!

'

Telephone: 079-

C6 DEC 1993

24

Token

1.

Not

Thank you for your letter of 19 November to Rod Bunten, and for the copy of the Hansard report. When I left UKREP, you might have thought that you had seen the back of me. so, I'm afraid: I have taken over from Rod in Hong Kong Department.

2. I enclose a copy of a translation of remarks made by Hosokawa at a press conference on 7 November during his visit to Korea. It covers his apology for Japanese action during their colonial domination of the Korean Peninsula. I also enclose copies of Tokyo telno 876 and Seoul telno 482, and a copy of a relevant excerpt from the BBC's transcript of its broadcasts.

3. I imagine that, fifty years on, it will not be easy to establish with much certainty the validity of any claims which may or may not be made. Of course, if any Hong Kong women do come forward with claims which are subsequently established to be genuine, we would certainly consider taking the issue up with the Japanese Government. However I think that we are all agreed that we would not want to advertise

(in advance of such claims emerging) our willingness to act supportively.

Чти

CE GARRETT

HKD

ети

Chan.

cc: C Roberts Esq, BE Tokyo

1