TNAG-2776-FCO40-3993-Hong-Kong-questions-for-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-on-c-1993 — Page 37

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MDADAN 3704

4. SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT AND THE ACCOMPANYING STATEMENT BY KONO (ROBERTS' TELELETTER OF 6 AUGUST TO SHERRINGTON) THERE HAS BEEN MUCH SPECULATION AS TO WHAT CONCRETE MEASURES THE NEW GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE TO FOLLOW-UP THE APOLOGY. THE SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT (WHICH HAS ALREADY TAKEN UPON ITSELF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COMPENSATING ITS OWN COMFORT WOMEN) HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT IT IS NOT (NOT) SEEKING FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FROM JAPAN BUT WANTED THE JAPANESE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS NEVERTHELESS A WIDESPREAD EXPECTATION THAT JAPAN WILL DO SOMETHING. FUJII CONFIRMED THAT THE MATTER WAS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION (COMMENT: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME MEASURES WILL BE ANNOUNCED WHEN PRIME MINISTER HOSOKAWA VISITS SOUTH KOREA THIS WEEKEND).

5.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENTS (INCLUDING THE PHILIPPINES AND THE NETHERLANDS) ARE IN TOUCH PRIVATELY AND INFORMALLY WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY ARE LEAVING IT TO PRIVATE ASSOCIATIONS TO PRESS CLAIMS PUBLICLY AND IN THE COURTS. WE ARE AWARE OF PRIVATE CLAIMS FROM KOREANS, PHILIPPINES AND DUTCH INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANISATIONS IN THE JAPANESE COURTS ALTHOUGH NO-ONE BELIEVES THEY ARE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE ANYTHING APART FROM GENERATING PUBLICITY. THE CHINESE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO RAISE THE ISSUE. THE LARGEST POTENTIAL CLAIM IS FROM NORTH KOREA (WITH WHICH JAPAN HAS NEVER CONCLUDED A PEACE TREATY). THE NORTH KOREAN PROPAGANDA MACHINE IN JAPAN REGULARLY CALLS FOR FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, BUT THE ABSENCE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES RULES OUT ANY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AT THIS STAGE. HONG KONG MAY ALSO WISH TO BE AWARE THAT THE GENERAL ISSUE OF COMFORT WOMEN HAS BEEN RAISED IN UNCHR AND A SUBCOMMITTEE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF CHAVEZ IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A REPORT IN APRIL 1994.

6.

THE FOREGOING SUMMARY MAY SUGGEST THAT LITTLE CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE WAY OF COMPENSATION FOR HONG KONG COMFORT WOMEN, NEVERTHELESS, THE JAPANESE HAVE REGULARLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CLAIM OF THE COMFORT WOMEN HAS SPECIAL MORAL FORCE. IT STILL SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE JAPANESE WILL AGREE TO PAY COMPENSATION TO INDIVIDUALS. BUT THEY MAY DECIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO ENDOW A CHARITABLE INSTITUTION OR HOSPITAL OR ERECT A MEMORIAL TO THE SOUTH KOREAN COMFORT WOMEN. IF THEY WERE TO DO SO THEY WOULD EXPECT TO COME UNDER PRESSURE TO TAKE SIMILAR STEPS IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THEY RECRUITED SUCH WOMEN. IN THAT EVENT WE SEE NO REASON WHY HONG KONG SHOULD BE AN EXCEPTION.

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WE HAVE WARNED THE MFA THAT THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN TABLED.

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