AS I was reading the latest batch of letters in these columns concerning what the Japanese did during World War II, I remembered an incident my mother had experienced about two years ago in Hong Kong.
She was sitting in a mini-bus waiting for it to depart when suddenly, the driver began to yell something at her.
She was frightened since she couldn't understand what the driver was saying, and he was obviously angry at her. One of the few words she understood was 'yat boon' which means Japan. No one on the bus tried to look at her or help her.
Finally, she got off the bus and the driver started the bus immediately as though he had been waiting for her to leave.
She had paid her fare and could not recall anything she had done to offend the driver.
When she told me about this incident, I was surprised and at the same time I realised that even though people in Hong Kong are mostly nice, there are many people who still regard the Japanese with contempt. After reading the letters, I was made even more aware that these feelings of resentment still exist. Apparently, the driver was being very rude to her, but I somehow felt his actions were justified. Why? Because I believe, as do many people in countries throughout Asia, that the Japanese Government has not given an apology that can be considered to be acceptable.
