Source:
https://scmp.com/article/338885/payout-victory-war-veterans

Payout victory for war veterans

Hong Kong's surviving World War II veterans are in line for GBP10,000 (HK$112,500) compensation from the British Government.

But one veteran campaigner warned that some local British army volunteers might have difficulty securing the ex-gratia payment.

The latest twist in the fight to secure recognition for those who suffered as Japanese prisoners of war was revealed in a letter from the SAR's British Consulate.

Jack Edwards, chairman of the Hong Kong and China Branch of the Royal British Legion, received the news from the Commonwealth Ex-Services League in the UK.

'I am delighted because I feel that these people have never had a fair crack of the whip,' he said. 'For many it is, however, too late. The irony is that we don't want it from the British Government, we want it from the Japanese, but they don't want to give anything.'

Mr Edwards believes that 12 to 14 members of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps and 40 to 50 local Chinese who fought alongside them, mostly in other units, could qualify for the payments.

But he warned some veterans could face difficulties.

'The problem is that there may not be the documentation to back their case, but I am hoping we will be able to make a good enough case.'

Mr Edwards wrote to the Ex-Services League after a British minister announced Burma and India veterans would qualify for the one-off payments.

Mr Edwards said: 'It is not the end of the matter as far as Japan goes. We fight on.'