DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST OUTSIDE THE JAPANESE CONSULATE IN HONG KONG, 1997-04-23 (photo)

Hong Kong demonstrators protest April 23 outside the Japanese Consulate against the visit to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo by a group of 150 members of Japan's parliament including two cabinet ministers yesterday. The Yasukuni Shrine houses the spirits of 2.6 million Japanese who have died in wars since the 19th century, including several executed Class-A war criminals such as General Hideki Tojo, and the Japanese prime minister during World War Two. Chinese characters on the banner and the mock shrine read "Visit to Yasukuni Shrine equals revival of militarism" and "Shrine of Japanese Class-A war criminals". HONGKONG