China (Hansard, 12 July 1989)

§ 30. Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is considering trade sanctions against the Government of China.
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§ 81. Mr. Hood
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is considering trade sanctions against the Government of China.

§ Mr. Eggar
No, for the reasons given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 June.

§ 84. Mr. Cox
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with EEC ministers on events now taking place in China; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
The events in China were discussed by Foreign Ministers of the Twelve on 12 June, when it was agreed that the Presidency should carry out a demarche stressing the Twelve's grave concern at the continuing repression in China. The subject was discussed again at the European Council in Madrid, resulting in the declaration on China of 27 June.

§ 85. Mr. Wareing
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the ambassador of the People's Republic of China; and what subjects were discussed.

§ Mr. Eggar
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley) on 16 June.

§ 62. Mr. Tony Lloyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the Chinese authorities appealing for commutation of recent death sentences on humanitarian grounds.

§ Mr. Eggar
On 17 June the EC Twelve made a demarche to the Chinese authorities appealing for clemency for the first persons sentenced to death in connection with the demonstrations. On 21 June the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a statement deeply deploring the first executions and renewing our appeal to the Chinese authorities not to persecute those who had campaigned for their democratic rights. On 27 June the European Council also expressed its dismay and urged that the executions be stopped.

§ 54. Mr. David Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are currently taking place aimed at achieving a united international stance towards recent developments in the People's Republic of China.

§ Mr. Eggar
We have kept in close contact with our friends and partners over reactions to events in China. The European Council issued a declaration on China on 27 June. China will also be discussed at the forthcoming economic summit in Paris.

§ 39. Mr. Frank Cook
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has been making to the Government of China on the subject of human rights.

§ Mr. Eggar
We and our EC partners have firmly condemned the brutal actions of the Chinese Government. I made this plain to the Chinese charge d'affaires on 5 June. On 27 June the European Council adopted a declaration on China which reiterated our condemnation and called on the Chinese authorities to respect human546W rights. In accordance with this declaration, ambassadors representing the Twelve have been instructed to seek the admission of independent observers to attend trials and visit prisons.