Diaoyu voyage to mark war's end

Activities planned for 60th anniversary of Japan's defeat

A mass protest march to the Japanese consulate and an expedition to the disputed Diaoyu Islands are being organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japan.

The march on August 14, co-organised by the Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands, the Professional Teachers' Union and the Hong Kong Coalition for Preserving the History of World War II in Asia, will leave from Victoria Park.

'We hope 5,000 people will join the march,' action committee chairman Or Wah said.

August 15 marks the 60th anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allied forces in the second world war and is commemorated by China as the anniversary of victory in the Sino-Japanese war. Japanese troops stationed in China signed the surrender in Nanjing on September 9, 1945.

The groups are also organising a signature campaign that calls on the Japanese government to shoulder its wartime responsibilities, including offering compensation to victims. The signatures will be published in a Chinese-language newspaper next Wednesday.

Leading Japanese lawyers, helping victims of Japan's invasion to seek compensation from the Japanese government, and mainland academics have also been invited to attend a seminar at City University on August 13.

Mr Or said the action committee planned to launch an expedition to the Diaoyu Islands as early as next month to demonstrate China's sovereignty over the disputed territory and mark the 60th anniversary.

The committee is still raising cash to fund the voyage, which was originally scheduled for June.

A joint committee formed by pro-Beijing groups will also organise a tour to the sites of battles during Japan's invasion of Hong Kong on Saturday week.

The committee is also scheduled to host a music festival on August 29 and August 30 at City Hall to mark the anniversary of the end of the war.

Wong Kwok-kin, chairman of the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, said they were planning to organise a mass rally early next month. 'We will also organise a variety show in the Cultural Centre on October 30,' he added.