THE VICTIMS

Mrs Elizabeth (Suzie) Choo Kay Hoi, 36, private secretary to the manager of Hongkong and Shanghai Bank

She left behind six children, then aged 12 to 20.

Her eldest child, Madam Janet Ng, now 69, told The New Paper through her husband that she did not wish to speak of the past. Her husband said that at the time, she was earning just over $100 a month as a teacher.

Her younger sister was a beautician and the others were students.

Madam Ng's brother-in-law said that memories of the tragedy still affect the siblings.

Miss Juliet Goh Hwee Kuang, 23, assistant secretary to the manager

She and Mrs Choo were working on the mezzanine floor when the bomb went off.

Miss Goh was an only child whose father had died at the hands of the Japanese.

Her mother was reported as saying at the time: "I just don't know what to do now. I am all alone in this world. Juliet was my solace all these years."

Mr Mohammed Yasin Kesit, 45, driver for the Malaya Borneo Building Society

While the women were killed on the spot, he died two days later from intracranial and blast injuries.

He was reading a newspaper on a flight of stairs at the ground level when the bomb exploded on the landing directly above, raining bricks and glass down on him.

He left behind a widow and eight children.