TNAG-2346-FCO40-3415-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--Japan-and-China-1991 — Page 61

THE PRIME MINISTER

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I was very grateful for your message of 24 September about your recent visit to China. I was glad to have such a detailed

account.

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I was particularly interested and encouraged to read the

account of your exchanges on human rights. We must impress on

the Chinese that the world expects more of them in terms of

democratic accountability, including greater respect for human

rights. I have just had a meeting with Luo Hoi Sing one of the

Hong Kong citizens who was imprisoned in China after the

Tiananmen Square massacre. He was not physically ill-treated but he was kept in harsh conditions and was never subject to

anything which we would recognise as due judicial process. While the practical Chinese response to our arguments is

disappointing, there has been progress over the past year in

their willingness to talk about these issues. I am convinced

that the way forward is to continue to raise human rights,

making clear to the top Chinese leadership that we expect action

from them and that, without action, their abuse of human rights

will continue to be an impediment to the full development of

relations with the West. It is important that others among our colleagues who visit China also raise these issues.

I agree with you too that it is not just because of human rights that it is important to maintain a dialogue with the

Chinese.