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163452
MDLOAN 9905
THE AUSTRALIAN MISSION HAVE BEEN MIXED. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS STILL NO AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE ON WHEN THE FRENCH MISSION SHOULD VISIT. A MISSION IS LIKELY TO BE SEEN AS INQUISITORIAL AND CONFRONTATIONAL IN TONE, AND SEEMS UNLIKELY TO EVOKE A COOPERATIVE RESPONSE FROM THE CHINESE. THE CHINESE ARE OF COURSE ABLE TO EXERT A LARGE MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER WHAT MISSIONS DO AND WHOM THEY SEE. PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, IT WOULD ALSO BE DIFFICULT TO ASSEMBLE A SUITABLE GROUP HERE WITH THE NECESSARY CREDIBILITY AND EXPERTISE.
MEETINGS BETWEEN EXPERTS
4. AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A MISSION, ANOTHER POSSIBILITY MIGHT BE LOWER-KEY MEETINGS BETWEEN UK AND CHINESE EXPERTS TO DISCUSS CONCEPTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE SITUATION IN CHINA. THESE EXPERTS MIGHT BE LAWYERS OR ACADEMICS WITH A PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN HUMAN RIGHTS MATTERS, OR EVEN NGOS. IT WOULD HOWEVER BE NECESSARY TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THEY WERE MEETING WITH THE SPECIFIC AUTHORITY OF THE TWO PRIME MINISTERS SO AS TO GIVE THEIR MEETINGS SUITABLE WEIGHT. THIS MIGHT BE A WAY INTO BUILDING UP A MORE SUBSTANTIAL, AND DETAILED, DIALOGUE ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN A NON-CONFRONTATION MANNER WHICH WE COULD PRESENT AS BEING IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR WISH TO HELP THE CHINESE IN THIS AREA RATHER THAN MERELY CRITICISE. THE DISADVANTAGE IS THAT ANY RESULTS WOULD BE SLOW AND THIS COULD BE SEEN AS TOO LOW PROFILE AN OUTCOME FROM THE VISIT.
LIST OF DETAINEES
5. OUR OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THE LIST HANDED OVER DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS EG THE US, DOES NOT SUGGEST THIS IS A PRODUCTIVE ROUTE, OTHER THAN TO SIGNIFY CLEARLY TO THE CHINESE THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THEIR ACTIONS (ALTHOUGH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HERE CONTINUE TO SET STORE BY THIS). THERE MAY HOWEVER BE A CASE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE REFERRING TO THE EARLIER LIST AND HIS DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE EVENTUAL CHINESE RESPONSE (SEE PARA 8
BELOW).
CALLS FOR SPECIFIC CHINESE ACTION
6. ON THIS OCCASION THE PRIME MINISTER OR SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT BE RATHER MORE SPECIFIC ON THE SORT OF ACTION THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM THE CHINESE EG RELEASES OF DETAINEES, ACCESS OF FOREIGN OBSERVERS TO TRIALS, ACCESS FOR NGOS TO INSPECT CONDITIONS IN CHINESE PRISONS, CHINESE ADHERENCE TO THE ICCPR. SPECIFIC MENTION WILL ALSO NEED TO BE MADE OF TIBET, AND OF OUR CONCERNS ABOUT RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. PRACTICAL HELP
7. WE MIGHT OFFER THE CHINESE PRACTICAL HELP EG TRAINING FOR
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