THIRTEEN representatives from the Hong Kong Reparation Association petitioned the Japanese Consul yesterday urging the Japanese Government to honour the military yen issued during World War II.
Hong Kong was captured by Japanese troops on Christmas day 1941, and 44 months' occupation followed.
The protesters, all in their 60s and 70s, handed a petition letter addressed to the Japanese Prime Minister, Tomiichi Murayama, appealing for reparation.
They urged Japan to convert back to Hong Kong dollars all the military money Hong Kong people were forced to exchange during the occupation.
Chairman of the association, Ng Yat-hing, said military money with an estimated value of $540 million at the time was still in the hands of 3,000 households. The present value could be more than $10 billion.
The group took the compensation claim to the Japanese court last year but no timetable had been set for the ruling.
