Veterans with the Kuomintang (KMT) who fought against the Japanese invasion from 1937 to 1945 will be included in the social welfare system, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a reply to a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC).

However, the reply to the proposal in March by Wong Man-kong, an NPC deputy from Hong Kong, rejected listing the soldiers as beneficiaries of the preferential treatment system, which is offered to veterans and serving members of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The reply given in June was posted online Tuesday.

The ministry said eligible KMT veterans who fought in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) will also be invited to ceremonies to commemorate the war.

"This is a positive and high-profile move," Wong told the Global Times, adding that he and other members will check on its implementation.

"I hope it will be more than just words. We'd like to see more concrete information about the veterans," said Wong.

Meng Qiping, a volunteer who cares for veterans in Hunan Province, told the Global Times that former KMT soldiers are in receipt of government benefits, but not enough.

A worker, surnamed Wang, from Shenzhen Longyue Charity Foundation agreed, pointing out that more financial aid and policy support are needed. "Most of them are in their 90s and in poor health, and the welfare, under 100 yuan ($16.31) a month, is far from enough."

However, Wong said even though the government may be simply repeating what is done, this will still make everyone, including the soldiers, feel a little better, because they are gradually being recognized.

Lu Caiwen, 87, a KMT veteran from Yunnan Province, said he appreciates the move. "The government is paying more attention to us now. My former classmates from the Huangpu Military Academy and I are living a good enough life under the current system and I believe a better life is waiting," said Lu.

Regulations on pensions and preferential treatments for military service, issued in 2004, apply only to the PLA.