Over a hundred people of different groups Thursday protested before the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong in commemoration of the 68th anniversary of the Lugouqiao Incident, which marked the outbreak of the eight-year-long War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.  

Representatives from Hong Kong Reparation Association demanded apologies and compensations from the Japanese government and criticized the right-wing forces in Japan for their attitude toward militarism and distortion of history textbooks.

Around 20 representatives of the group also marched to the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, protesting against its support of Japan to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions staged a protest against the annual pilgrimages paid by the Japanese officials to the war criminal-related Yasukuni Shrine and the revival of militarism.

Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union presented a protest letter to the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong, requesting the Japanese government to face up to the history of aggression and truly reflect on its past.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2005)