ARTHUR GOMES bears no grudge against the Japanese troops who kept him prisoner in Hong Kong for almost four years during World War II.
But yesterday Mr Gomes, 78, who now chairs the Hong Kong Prisoner of War Association, said Japan should apologise for its treatment of people like him.
'I hold no animosity,' he said. 'I go to Japan every year to see my friends there. I have many Japanese friends.
'You've got to see the point of view of the Japanese too. But I think the majority opinion is that if they've done wrong they should take steps to admit it.' Mr Gomes, who was born in Hong Kong, was captured in December 1941 while serving with the volunteer defence corps and sent to Shamshuipo prisoner-of-war camp.
He was there until the liberation in August 1945, doing a variety of 'slave labour' jobs such as building the airport and roads.
He was never seriously injured but was 'slapped a bit and punched and kicked'.
