MASSACRES BY JAPANESE ARMY IN SINGAPORE IN LAST WAR (Progress in negotiations on compensation)

Mr Tee Kim Leng asked the Prime Minister what is the progress in negotiations on the question of compensation for the massacres by the Japanese Army in Singapore in the last war and what further action he intends to take.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, while I was away, the Japanese Consul-General saw the Deputy Prime Minister regarding a gesture of atonement to be made by the Japanese Government. As I understood it, the view of the Japanese Government was that, since it was a gesture of atonement, to talk in terms of a specific sum of money would not be conducive to a settlement. This was what I understood from the Deputy Prime Minister.

They said, however, that they would consider a donation for a project like a cancer research centre or an indoor stadium or such like public amenities.

I shall be seeing the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Committee in charge of this matter shortly and will thereafter see the Japanese Consul-General.