HL Deb 18 December 2002 vol 642 cc121-2WA
Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Government of the Republic of China and to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees about the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees from China to North Korea. [HL587]

Baroness Amos

We regularly raise the issue of North Korean refugees at the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue. At the last round of the dialogue, on 21 November, we urged China to observe its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and allow the UNHCR access to the border areas.

We have made no representations to the UNHCR on this issue.

Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many North Korean refugees there are in China; when they fled there; and what efforts have been made by the international community on their behalf. [HL589]

Baroness Amos

The Ministry of Reunification in South Korea estimates there are 10,000 long-term North Korean migrants in China. Some NGOs believe the numbers are higher. North Koreans have been crossing into China for many years. We believe that numbers rose significantly after the famine in North Korea in 1994–95. The UK and EU regularly raise this issue in bilateral human rights dialogues.