OTTAWA, ON, January 12, 1998 -  Cliff Chadderton, Patron of the Hong Kong Veterans Association of Canada, stated today that Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's official apology for Japan's actions in World War II means nothing to Canada's Hong Kong veterans. The apology was issued in Tokyo in a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"So what," said Chadderton in response to the apology, which had the same wording as Japan's August 1995 statement issued on the 50th anniversary of the war's end.

"Japan owes Canadian Far East PoWs $24,000 each as per a compensation claim that is now before the Canadian government based on a recommendation from the Foreign Affairs Committee," Chadderton said. The claim has been spearheaded by The War Amps, of which Chadderton is Chief Executive Officer.