79 8. 22. Zero. £18.99. 722. Zero. Zero. What is the significance of these numbers?
This year will be the 79th Remembrance Sunday since seamen of Chinese descent who had courageously served in the British Merchant Navy in the Second World War were forcibly rounded up by the authorities and deported.
Said authorities lied to the sailors’ families about their terminal disappearance.
Since that time the country has had 18 Prime Ministers.
It has had eight Prime Ministers in the last 22 years since the attempted government cover up was exposed.
Zero of those Prime Ministers have apologised.
One of them recently published a book.
Purchasers of this book, of which there seem to be no shortage given its position in the best-selling charts, may contribute £18.99 to his capacious bank balance for the privilege of reading 722 pages.
While these pages are full of words, most of them geared to self-justification, not one of them is “sorry”, and certainly not for the matter at issue.
Zero has one other significance.
It describes the amount of effort the Royal British Legion has put into obtaining restitution and recognition for the bravery and service of these Chinese sailors.
G Kent
Pinchbeck
