OTTAWA, ON,  June 11, 1998 - The Foreign Affairs Committee today made a unanimous recommendation that Canada's Hong Kong Veterans be compensated for slave labour carried out under the Japanese in World War II. This is the second unanimous recommendation made by the Committee during this session of Parliament.

Cliff Chadderton, Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps and Patron of the Hong Kong Veterans, expressed appreciation. "The Foreign Affairs Committee under Chairman Bill Graham has made a tremendous effort in the past year in studying and supporting this Claim, and today's development is most encouraging," he said.

The Claim, which seeks $17 million for approximately 350 PoWs and 400 widows, was initiated by The War Amps in 1987. Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy last week ordered a re-examination of the Claim following the discovery of documents by The War Amps showing that Canada ignored and covered up an opportunity in 1955 to seek more compensation for Hong Kong Veterans.