3.
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Develop a programme of visits to courts, local level
elections
etc.
4.
5.
Seek to develop discreet contacts with dissidents and their families, within the limits of normal diplomatic usage.
Target scholarships and technical assistance towards
training in key areas to promote institutional change.
(b) Action with EC/ G7 Partners
1. We should seek to pool
2.
information with EC partners and
other Western countries and develop a common policy on the raising of human rights issues by high level visitors and others. The aim should be to ensure a degree of
consistency in what we say and do.
Join them in pressing the Chinese to live up to the international obligations they have undertaken in the human rights field; and in particular to adhere to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. (This has particularly important implications for Hong Kong; it might therefore be a specific objective of Lord Caithness' visit to try to make progress on this point). Press the Chinese also for the report they are overdue to make to the UN Torture Committee.
(c) Action in London
1.
2.
Ensure all Ministers and senior delegations visiting China are briefed to raise human rights.
Increase contact with NGOs (such as Amnesty International and June 4 China Support Group) to improve flow of information and ensure that they are aware of action taken by HMG. (The Tibet Support Groups who advocate Tibet's
independence would need more careful handling).
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