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LORD FARINGDON rose to ask His Majesty's Government what were the circumstances in which Sir Robert Kotiwall, since the liberation of Hong Kong, received an invitation to Government House, and whether it is intended to institute proceedings against him for his co-operation with the Japanese during the occupation of the colony. The noble Lord said: My Lords, in putting the question standing in my name I should like, with the permission of your Lordships House, to read a brief extract from the Hong Kong News of Thursday, February 26, 1942. It is headed:
Welcome Address delivered by Community's Representatives at the official welcome to Governor Isogai.
The address of welcome on behalf of Overseas Chinese in Hong Kong was delivered by Mr. Lo Kuk-wo, Chairman of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, who said:—
Your Excellency, Tile Imperial Japanese Forces, by their valiant act of arms, have brought peace and tranquility to Hong Kong.
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The ever-forward march of these troops has gained for them a resplendent position in the history of East Asiatic peoples. The one and a half million people of Hong Kong share in the reflection of the glory of the Imperial Army, and thus enjoy the benefits of the New Order of Co-prosperity in East Asia. What greater happiness could there be? To-day we welcome Your Excellency's coming to this place to re-build it, and the people applaud your coming with great joy, the measure of which exceeds expression in words. In your office Your Excellency represents the ideals in the illustrious Emperor's heart.
To-day you are the parent official of your people. All Overseas Chinese in Hong Kong cannot, indeed express their sentiments in full. Hong Kong is an important market of East Asia from which mercantile enterprise radiates like the spokes of a wheel, and it forms a most important centre in the Co-prosperity Sphere. Although war operations have caused some damage, we rely on the Imperial Army's protection to restore gradually the former prosperity of this place. We lift our eyes and behold good and friendly teachers, and for this all overseas Chinese are truly and deeply thankful.
Now that we behold Your Excellency's arrival, we also see the establishment of an altruistic Government which will take charge of the returning dawn. Your Excellency has been for some time in China, and you are well-acquainted with the people's habits. The great task of restoring prosperity we shall behold from dawn to dusk and this shall certainly benefit the multitude and improve our government. We must join closely together in co-operation, and energetically work on reconstruction. We wish your Excellency unlimited happiness.
§ I would say that Mr. Lo Kuk-wo is the identical person, the Sir Robert Kotiwall who is mentioned in my question. I would not bring an individual case before your Lordships' House were it not that I have reports that the official reception of this person since the liberation of Hong Kong has caused great despondency amongst the local Chinese, local Chinese who during the occupation gave proof of their loyalty at the risk, and often enough at the cost, of their lives in giving help and assistance to imprisoned British officials. It is true that I am told Sir Robert also caused presents of food to be sent to prisoners in Japanese hands through the medium of his daughter. I myself feel that I have no vocation for martyrdom, and if some of these gifts were accepted I should be disinclined to criticize the recipients. But I do feel that a tribute should be paid to those who did actually return those gifts from this Quisling. That is the background of the question which I now beg to put to His Majesty's Government.
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§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, I have not previously been acquainted with the eloquent statement which has just been read from some Far Eastern newspaper. It has a very oriental flavour. I do not know whether it has been verified, but it sounds very journalistic. All I can say, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Ammon, is that Sir Robert Kotiwall's co-operation with the Japanese during the period of enemy occupation was undertaken for the benefit of the Chinese population of Hong Kong, after he had received instructions on the course he should follow from certain senior officers of the Colonial Government. After the liberation of Hong Kong the Commander-in Chief concluded that, although Sir Robert had displayed some lack of judgment in carrying out those instructions, his loyalty to the Crown was not in question. Accordingly Admiral Harcourt decided that there was no case for proceedings against Sir Robert, and that it was proper to entertain him at Government House. The Governor, who resumed administration on May 1, is in full agreement with the Commander-in-Chief's decision, and when accepting Sir Robert's resignation from the Executive Council on the grounds of ill-health and the approaching expiration of his term of appointment, expressed appreciation of the valuable service he has rendered to the Colony as a member of that body.