TNAG-2776-FCO40-3993-Hong-Kong-questions-for-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-on-c-1993 — Page 25

1995-11-19

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agency which would of course

of course maintain the highest level of confidentiality? Such information could be used to determine whether a case may exist for Hong Kong to seek some form of compensation from the Japanese Government, possibly as a grant to be used to help those who suffered during the Japanese occupation. And finally, can the Government advise this Council on the extent of the constraints mentioned by the Secretary, presumably under Article 14 of the San Francisco Treaty? Do they include crimes which have nothing to do with the conduct of war?

SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: Mr President. the best way for any individuals. or indeed other people with information on this subject. to make this known to the Government would be through the Social Welfare Department, and in particular the Family Services Division of the Social Welfare Department. As I have said, we have never received any information on this subject, but we would obviously consider it sympathetically if we did receive any such information.

As regards the second part of the question. I am advised that the arrangements made under the San Francisco Treaty of 1951 and subsequent payments made by the Japanese Government fully discharged their obligations for the damage and suffering caused during the war and that there would be no legal basis for further claims on the Japanese Government. This does not necessarily mean that there would not be a basis for moral claims.

MR HENRY TANG: Mr President. I am wondering whether the Secretary, in the course of carrying out his search through the archives, has found any instances of men being forced into immoral acts during the war.

PRESIDENT: Mr TANG, I think you are going beyond the scope of the question. Would you like to rephrase your question? I am not sure I understood it.

MR HENRY TANG: Mr President. I am wondering whether the Secretary, in the course of searching through the archives for information on women being recruited to become prostitutes during the Japanese occupation, has discovered any instances also of men being so recruited.