§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government or the Hong Kong Government have made any representations to the Government of the People's Republic of China concerning the detention without trial of Hong Kong citizen Lau Shan-Ching by the authorities in Guangzhou.
§ Mr. RifkindMr. Lau Shan-Ching does not hold a British passport but we have inquired through the normal channels about the circumstances of his disappearance and presumed detention. We have not received a reply so far.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government's diplomatic representatives in China have attempted to gain consular access to Hong Kong citizen Lau Shan-Ching currently under detention in Guangzhou.
§ Mr. RifkindNo.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances a Hong Kong citizen is deemed to be ineligible for normal consular access by Her Majesty's Government's diplomatic representatives in China.
§ Mr. RifkindThe circumstances in which Hong Kong residents are entitled to official consular protection were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Lambeth, Central (Mr. Tilley) on 20 July.—[Vol. 28, c.92.]