§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, column 289–90, on Lord Howe's visit to China, whether he met representatives of (a) the Chinese Family Planning Association and (b) the Chinese State Family Planning Commission; what questions were raised; and what response was received.
§ Mr. GoodladA wide range of issues including questions related to reducing China's population growth were raised with various organisations during Lord Howe's visit. In the time available it was not practicable to call on the specific bodies to which the hon. Gentleman refers.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the latest situation concerning human rights in Tibet; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladWe are aware through our contacts with Amnesty International and other non-governmental organisations, of reports of human rights abuses in Tibet and elsewhere in China. We deplore such abuses and have made our concerns clear to the Chinese authorities on a number of recent occasions. EC ambassadors in Peking are considering a visit to Tibet in May, in the course of which they can be expected to raise a number of issues of concern.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government raised the issue of Chinese coercive population control at the UN Commission on Human Rights earlier this year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladAlthough we did not raise this specific issue at the recent session of the UN Commission of Human Rights in Geneva, we and our EC partners did introduce a resolution calling on the Chinese authorities to guarantee full respect for human rights throughout China in keeping with their international obligations under the UN charter. Unfortunately, this was defeated by a narrow majority by a procedural "no-action" motion.
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§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken to raise the issue of Chinese coercive population control at the meeting with Chinese embassy officials in London on 4 March; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladA number of issues of concern, including that of forced abortion, were raised by officials with a member of the Chinese embassy on 4 March. We shall continue to raise such issues with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 26 April,Official Report, column 289–90 on Lord Howe's visit to China, when questions relating to reducing China's population growth were raised with the Chinese authorities during the visit; what response was received; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoodladThis issue was raised by my right hon. noble and learned Friend Lord Howe's delegation with Fu Hao of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 4 December. An explanation of China's family planning policies was given by the Chinese side. When the report of the visit is completed, copies will be laid in the Library of the House.