HL Deb 30 July 1984 vol 455 cc528-9

2.47 p.m.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the concern among Christian people in this country and throughout the world about the continued imprisonment in Taiwan of the Reverend Dr.C.M.Kao, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan; and whether they are working with the United States Government to make representations for his release and that of other prisoners of conscience held by the Kwomington régime.

Baroness Young

My Lords, we are concerned over reports of the continued detention in Taiwan of people imprisoned for political reasons, but we do not have details of the case of the Reverend Dr.Kao. We are not, ourselves, in a position to make inquiries as we and the United States have no official relations with the authorities in Taiwan.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, if I supplied the details to the noble Baroness the Minister, would she use any office she has, if not with the United States then with any friendly country that has diplomatic relations there, to persuade them to use their good offices to try to get these people a fair and civilised trial?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I understand the strong feelings of the noble Lord in this matter, but I hope that he will understand the situation as I have described it in my answer to his original Question. British representatives overseas have instructions to report on the human rights position in the countries in which they operate; but as I have already indicated, there is no British representative in Taiwan and we therefore have no means of corroborating reports from other sources.

Viscount Ingleby

My Lords, will the noble Baroness consider looking at the report of an independent observer at the trial bearing in mind the possibility of joining with the United States in representations which I understand they are about to make?

Baroness Young

My Lords, it is of course a question for the United States Government as to whether or not they would make representations; but as I indicated in my original Answer, the United States have no official representation in Taiwan.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the British churches are deeply concerned about this and other similar cases, and have themselves made representations to Taiwan? Will she say which country at present represents British interests in Taiwan and whether we are in touch with them in relation to this case? Is it not a fact that although the United States do not have direct diplomatic relations with Taiwan, they nevertheless have very close relations with that island? Is it not possible, as the noble Lord has just suggested, to combine with them in making appropriate and firm representations to a country which boasts its sense of freedom?

Baroness Young

My Lords, in the case of United Kingdom citizens in Taiwan, they should be aware before travelling to Taiwan that there is no British consular representation there of any kind; and if there was a British citizen who was in difficulties, and if the noble Lord, or any other noble Lord, had particulars of the case, that would be a matter I could look into. We are, of course, not concerned in this particular case with a British citizen and, as I have indicated, we have no representation there, and therefore we cannot take up this particular case.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, if, as the noble Baroness says, our diplomatic representatives overseas have standing instructions to report back on religious persecution, is it not legitimate for Members of your Lordships' House or of another place to ask Questions of Ministers about reports they have received and to receive factual answers from those Ministers? Would it not be wrong for the right honourable gentleman the Foreign Secretary or any Minister in his department to reply that he cannot say anything about religious persecution in a given country because we have no locus standi in the matter? That is what he said.

Baroness Young

My Lords, of course it is the right of any Member of your Lordships' House to put down such a Question and, clearly, if I could give a more helpful or forthcoming answer I would do so, because I recognise the concern that has been expressed by the noble Viscount, Lord Ingleby, by the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, by the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, and by the noble Lord, Lord Avebury. The fact is that it is not a question of whether or not we have any locus standi in Taiwan: Her Majesty's Government do not regard the nationalist authorities in Taiwan as a government nor Taiwan as a state.