§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the practice of forced abortion in China; what representations he has made to the Government of China regarding the practice; and what provisions exist under the 753W treaty with China on Hong Kong governing the extent to which citizens of Hong Kong may be subject to the laws of the Government of China regarding the number of children that each family may have when the government of Hong Kong passes to China.
§ Mr. GoodladIn our contacts with the Chinese authorities, they have told us that forced abortion is not official policy. There are nevertheless many reports that such practices are condoned in more isolated areas. The joint declaration guarantees Hong Kong people the freedom to marry and the right to raise a family freely, and this guarantee is reiterated in the Basic Law which will become the constitution of Hong Kong on 1 July.
§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese authorities about their use of labour camps and the case of Mr. Harry Wu, a Chinese citizen currently living in the United States of America.
§ Mr. GoodladWe have made clear to the Chinese authorities on many occasions our deep concern about the widespread abuses of human rights in China. The Government continue to urge all states that have not yet ratified international instruments covering slavery, forced labour and similar practices, including China, to do so at the earliest opportunity. We have no plans to make representations about the specific case of Mr. Harry Wu.