HC Deb 03 February 1997 vol 289 c504W
Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning forced labour in China. [13528]

Dr. Liam Fox

In recent years, we have received a number of representations about forced labour in China from Members of Parliament, human rights groups such as Anti-Slavery International, and individuals, including Harry Wu, the US-Chinese campaigner against prison labour. We regularly raise our concerns about such abuses of human rights with the Chinese authorities.

Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 423, when he expects to reach a conclusion concerning what action the EU should take regarding the imprisonment of Ngawang Choepel; and if he will make a statement. [13645]

Mr. Hanley

We have now discussed the case of Ngawang Choepel with our EU partners, who share our concern. The regular representations which we have made, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our EU partners, will have left the Chinese in no doubt about the strength of our concern about the human rights situation in Tibet, and about the harassment and detention of individuals.

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