Sex Slave Statues To Stay Near Japan's Consulate

Activists who put up three "comfort women" statues near the Japanese consulate in Central said on Friday that these protest symbols will stay there till they find a permanent site for them.

Activists of Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands erected the statues in July last year while marking the Marco Polo bridge incident of 1937 which lead to Japanese invasion of China.

The consulate had lodged complaints with the government against the placement of the statues.

But Au Pak-kuen, the vice-chairman of action committee, said both police and the Food Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have rejected the complaints given by the Japanese officials.

He said the police told the Japanese officials that in Hong Kong people have the right to protest, and the statues were an example of that.

Au said he understands that the FEHD has told the consulate that officials will not ask for the statues to be removed because they are not obstructing the walkway.

He said they are still looking for a permanent spot for the statues and is in talk with the officials regarding this.

The activists also marched from the Central Post Office to the consulate to demand that the Japanese government apologise for their invasion and compensate those who were affected by it.

“Comfort women” is a euphemism for women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during the Second World War.