§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government about its attitude towards practitioners of Falun Gong. [156408]
§ Mr. BattleWe take every appropriate opportunity to raise with the Chinese authorities our concerns about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners. I did so with the Chinese Ambassador on 30 November 2000. During the sixth round of the UK/China human rights dialogue held in Beijing on 12–14 February, we pressed the Chinese Government to cease actions against Falun Gong adherents which contravene international human rights standards including the excessive use of force, and of administrative detention and psychiatric institutions.
I also spelt out the UK's concerns on human rights in China, including the treatment of Falun Gong adherents, in my address at the UN Commission on Human Rights on 22 March.