§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the government of the Republic of China regarding the treatment of the South Korean National Assembly member, Kim Moon-sik, and three others, during a fact-finding visit to China, when they raised the abduction and possible death of Reverend Kim Dong-sik in North Korea. [HL750]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)We are aware of these cases. We regularly raise human rights concerns with the People's Republic of China. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary did so during his recent visit to China on 20-21 January. We raised concerns about freedom of expression and North Korean border crossers at our biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue, the last round of which was held in Beijing on 22 November 2004.
We continue to urge China to observe its obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention for Refugees and to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees access to the China/North Korea border region.