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The
The
stood in front of a tank during the Tiananmen incident. Vice-Mayor of Shanghai had offered a welcoming dinner. visit to Shanghai prison was worthwhile since
worthwhile since no special preparations appeared to have been made. But the most impressive 1 event was meetings with Bishop Jin, of the National Patriotic
Church who, despite many years in prison and lack of recognition by the Vatican, still maintained his faith intact and with equally devoted Protestant pastor, Madame Cao Shenjie.
Conclusion
an
18. This a quick letter dictated in haste before I depart on leave. In case we are thinking of mounting a similar exercise, there are certain useful conclusions to draw from the Australian experience:
(a) it is possible to find useful interlocuters, often in unexpected places, on human rights issues;
(b) the quality of the delegation is important. They should have genuine expertise in certain areas and, if visiting Tibet, will learn little without a member who is experienced in Tibetan and Tibetan religious life;
(c) a mixture of persistence with some residual courtesy will extract the maximum information from the Chinese side; but formal political backing on the bilateral net will often be needed to ensure the visit does not degenerate into pure formalism.
19. That said, the longer term effects of the visit are difficult to predict. The Chinese authorities may in time develop a human rights "trail" as smooth as that for those who visit the Terracotta Warriors and Guilin. The Australians obtained a vague invitation for a repeat visit from Zhu Rongji and a Chinese delegation is planning to visit Australia. The delegation will also have extensive contacts with human rights organisations in Australia,
those already made
as well as
in Hong Kong.
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cc:
UKMIS
Geneva
UKMIS New York
Chancery Canberra
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Jami
D Coates
Political Counsellor
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