TNAG-2353-FCO40-3423-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1991 — Page 85

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Helpful that you have produced this as a basis for dialogue. Should

like to discuss various points arising from the White Paper.

Recognise the progress you have made on feeding and clothing your population, but unclear why you believe this precludes giving them other fundamental freedoms, including individual political

freedom. As Mr Hurd told Zou Jiahua, no wish to see instability.

But our experience in rest of world is that change towards

democratic accountability inevitable.

Other developing countries have acknowledged that other needs.

are equally important and that expressing concern about human rights does not constitute interference in a country's internal affairs (eg

at Harare). (China has condemns apartheid and racism in other

countries (ie) accepts that in some circumstances interference from

outside is justified).

Note that White Paper endorses the International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights as promoting purposes and principles of

UN Charter. Quite agree.

Does PRC intend to accede to this

covenant in near future?

White Paper states that court cases (except those involving state secrets, individual privacy or minors) should be public. Can you explain why foreign diplomats and journalists were barred from attending trials held earlier this year for those detained for the

actions in 1989?

White Paper (p. 29) says that on average 50,000 sentenced to punitive detention each year without public trial in the education-through-labour system. How is this consistent with claim that nobody is sent to labour camps or other forms of internal

without trial (p. 26)?

exile

White Paper also says that capital punishment is only applied to the "most heinous crimes" Why are so many people executed for

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.