OTTAWA, ON, December 11, 1998 - The War Amps of Canada, commenting on the announcement that Canada will pay compensation to Hong Kong Veterans, stated today that all Canadians should share in the pride that, after more than 50 years, justice has been done.

Cliff Chadderton, Patron of the Hong Kong Veterans Association and Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps, expressed his admiration for the surviving members of the Hong Kong force and the widows. The War Amps has led the fight for compensation both at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, and before the Canadian Government in Ottawa.

The claim was paid in accordance with the provision of the Geneva Convention that prisoners of war who were forced into slave labour for Japanese industries, are required to be paid at the same rate as workers in Japan.

Reparations were paid by the Canadian War Claims Commission in 1952 out of the proceeds of the sale of Japanese assets. The first payment was $1 per day. A further payment was made by the Canadian Government in 1958 of 50 cents a day.

Chadderton stated that the total of $1.50 per day was grossly inadequate. Further demands could not be made upon the Japanese Government, however, until the economy of that country recovered.

By 1987, it was felt that Japan was in an economic position to make payment. Inquiries from the Japanese Embassy in Canada elicited the response that the Peace Treaty represented the final settlement of any claims.

The War Amps then sought status as a non-governmental organization, and when granted, made the first submission to the Human Rights Commission in Geneva in 1987.

The War Amps made a number of submissions before the Human Rights Commission to clarify a number of points including:

• there was no moratorium on war crimes of World War II,
   
• a United Nations agency could support a recommendation for compensation, but machinery did not exist to enforce payment.

In 1992, the Human Rights Commission stated it could not proceed with the Claim until The War Amps exhausted all domestic remedies. Chadderton asked the Government to have the matter considered, by a Parliamentary Committee. Subsequently, The War Amps made a Submission to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade in November of 1996.

In April of 1997, this Committee submitted a report to the Minister of Veterans Affairs recommending that the Canadian Government pay the Claim and seek restitution from Japan. Following the June 1997 election, the Committee held a further meeting and produced a report, supported by all political parties, which was tabled in the House of Commons on May 7, 1998. The Government, under House rules, had 150 days to respond.

The matter was raised in the House on June 3, 1998, when Foreign Affairs Minister Axworthy was questioned about The War Amps discovery of documents showing that Canada had ignored and covered up an opportunity in 1955 to seek more compensation for Hong Kong Veterans. Axworthy had not yet seen the documentation and responded that the 1952 Peace Treaty had settled the matter. Later that day, however, on reviewing the documentation, he advised Chadderton that he considered the matter "urgent" and was instituting an inquiry within his Department.