TNAG-2512-FCO40-3665-Future-of-Hong-Kong-International-Rights-and-Obligations-(IR-1992 — Page 260

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10 January 1992

WG Ehrman Esq

Government Secretariat Hong Kong

Jear Wilhaun

HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA

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One needs both

high-profile condemnation & lower-key dialogue".

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1. Many thanks for your thoughtful and helpful letter of 19 December about human rights in China.

2. In some ways China's response on human rights issues has undergone a sea-change over the past two years. Instead of the traditional accusation of "interference in China's internal affairs" she is now prepared to discuss these issues, which she has accepted are on the international agenda. This does not mean, of course, that she has changed her behaviour on the ground, but it does mean that we have to change our tactics. Confrontation (as the 3 Canadian parliamentarians have jusi demonstrated) tends to be unproductive while steady sustained pressure can possibly bring gradual results. China's recently published White Paper on human rights, for example, while not addressing many Western concerns, does provide a legitimate basis for dialogue. It is a useful peg onto which we can hang requests to attend trials or query the need for so many executions to give just two examples. You will recall that on our advice, Lord Caithness during his November/December visit concentrated on picking holes in the Chinese record against the background of this White Paper.

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3. Your ideas are indeed on almost precisely the same lines as Our s We are well aware of the importance of tackling institutional abuse and are already directing resources in this direction where possible. You mentioned our training scheme for young lawyers. To this should be added advice on civil service reform and training for Chinese judges. We plan increasingly to target our technical assistance and scholarships into areas which are likely to help promote reform. The emphasis on "good government" in the general aid programme is also designed to encourage the Chinese to move in the right direction. These are arguments we are also using with those of our EC partners who advocate a further imposition of an embargo on aid.

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