Tibet (Hansard, 13 January 1993)

§ 12. Mr. Trend
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about human rights in Tibet.

§ Mr. Goodlad
We remain very concerned over reports of human rights abuses in Tibet and throughout China, and Ministers have made our concerns clear to the Chinese at a high level both in public and in private on many occasions. My noble and learned Friend Lord Howe of Aberavon who visited China from 1 to 7 December will in due course submit a formal report on his visit to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. That report will be placed in the Library.

§ Mr. Trend
In view of the appalling human rights record in Tibet, will the Government use their good offices and best endeavours to encourage direct negotiations between the People's Republic of China and the Tibetans on the basis—and this is the heart of the matter—that there be no pre-conditions on either side?

§ Mr. Goodlad
The present position, as we understand it, is that the Chinese have offered to talk to the Dalai Lama about Tibet but have set certain conditions. The Dalai Lama has in the past responded positively to the principle of talks, but was not happy with some of the conditions. Although there have been reports in the media of subsequent talks, we believe that the impasse has still to be resolved. We believe that dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Tibetan people offers the best hope for a solution to the problem of Tibet. We shall continue to encourage both sides in this process. We are strongly in 913 favour of the principle of talks without preconditions. We have consistently urged the Chinese authorities to get into a real dialogue with the Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama. We reminded the Chinese embassy of our position only yesterday.

§ Dr. Godman
The continuing Chinese violations of Tibetan human rights are surely made worse by the Chinese Government's policy of moving hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens into the very heart of Tibet. Does the Minister agree that that policy of mass migration has as its objective the systematic destruction of the culture of the Tibetan people? When will the Government stand up to the ancient men in Beijing and tell them to stop these horrible violations of the rights of the peaceable and peaceful people of Tibet?

§ Mr. Goodlad
We are not in a position to confirm the accuracy of the reports alluded to by the hon. Gentleman. We are, however, as I have repeatedly said, deeply concerned about reports of widespread human rights abuses in Tibet and throughout China. We have raised the issue with senior Chinese leaders on several occasions in recent months.
Human rights are a central issue in our bilateral relations with the Chinese and are on the agenda of every ministerial meeting. We and our EC partners will continue to urge the Chinese authorities to adhere to internationally recognised standards of behaviour and to improve their record on human rights. My right hon. noble and learned Friend has, as I have said, recently led a mission to China as an earnest of our hope that, in particular, legal protection of the individual can be improved.