Tung Chee-hwa came under fire last night after it was announced there would be no official service to mark Sino-Japanese War Victory Day today.
Au Pak-kuen, vice-president of the Professional Teachers' Union, said the Chief Executive would be worse than his colonial predecessors if he failed to pay tribute to the war's victims.
In previous years, there was sporadic attendance from the Governor at commemoration services on Liberation Day - held on August 25 last year - marking the end of the three-year, eight-month Japanese occupation.
The new holiday was introduced by the preparatory committee in order to reflect Hong Kong's status as part of the mainland. A spokesman for Mr Tung said he had no plans to attend any commemorative functions today.
But Mr Au countered: 'Mr Tung has to show some respect to the Hong Kong people who sacrificed themselves during the war against the Japanese.
'Although Hong Kong was then under British administration, it was the Hong Kong Chinese who suffered and took part in the war.' Former prisoner of war and chairman of the Hong Kong and China branch of the Royal British Legion, Jack Edwards, said he was disappointed at the lack of official support.