HC Deb 27 November 1996 vol 286 c292W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government(a) have taken and (b) propose to take to encourage the Government of the People's Republic of China to cease taking measures against churches that are not registered with the official religious organisations. [5722]

Mr. Hanley

Restrictions on religious activity in China and persecution of those who practise outside the official church framework are causes for great concern. We and our EU partners continue to urge the Chinese authorities to regard freedom of worship as fulfilling a basic human need, not as a threat.