China (Hansard, 26 February 1999)

§ Mrs. Gillan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning(a) the ratification of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, (b) the detention of political prisoners, (c) the policy of re-education through labour and (d) the China Democracy Party. [73194]

§ Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 25 February 1999]Through our bilateral human rights dialogue, we have urged China to ratify and implement the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, suggested reforms to the system of re-education through labour and raised the cases of individuals detained in China, including a review of the cases of all those detained for "counter-revolutionary" offences. The recent imprisonment of pro-democracy activists is unacceptable. We have made our views clear to the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and in conjunction with EU partners and others. I have also raised our concerns with the Chinese Ambassador.

§ Mrs. Gillan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in China. [73276]

§ Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 25 February 1999]We continue to have many serious concerns about human rights in China, and the recent imprisonment of Chinese pro-democracy activists is a particularly worrying development. We have been addressing these concerns directly with the Chinese authorities through the continuing bilateral and EU human rights dialogues. With our EU partners, we are reviewing the progress made in these dialogues and shall be deciding in due course what position the EU will take on China at the forthcoming UN Commission on Human Rights.

§ Mr. Mullin
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other EU foreign ministers regarding human rights in China and the possibility of a resolution on the subject at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement. [73245]

§ Mr. Fatchett
We are concerned at recent developments in the area of human rights in China. We are in regular contact with our EU partners on how best to bring about positive change there. Together with our partners, we are reviewing the progress made in our dialogue with the Chinese authorities on this subject, and shall be deciding in due course what position the EU will take at the UN Commission on Human Rights.