TNAG-2750-FCO40-3965-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1993 — Page 180

TIBET

Support Group · UK

43 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BH. Tel: 071 240 2493

FACT SHEET

- Chinese presence in Tibet

Population transfer

During the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese attempted to destroy Tibetan culture by force. Since 1979, the 'mistakes' of the Cultural Revolution have been apologised for and 'corrected', according to Chinese authorities. But in the wake of the economic reforms of the last eight years, the Tibetans face a different threat: mass immigration by Chinese settlers.

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The wave of resettlement became apparent in 1983, partly as a result of economic changes - ie oppor- tunities for profit following the opening up of Tibet for the tourist trade and partly as a result of what seems to be government policy. Exiled Tibetans maintain that this process could lead to Tibetans becoming a minority in their own land, which would once and for all disenfranchise them from the future political process, as well as threaten their culture with extinction.

If this process, whether intentional or not, continues, the question of Tibetan freedom will become academic. Tibetans run the risk of being marginalised as just another colourful item in China's Treasure House of Nationalities, in China's drive to 'modernise and unify the motherland'. Statistical evidence for this resettlement is incomplete but persuasive:

Population of Tibet

Tibetan exiles claim 7.5 million Chinese now live in Tibet alongside 6 million Tibetans. These figures are unconfirmed but recent Chinese figures confirm the trend. In addition, it is estimated that there are 300,000 troops throughout Tibet.

U'Tsang (TAR)

In 1952 Mao Tse Tung said 'There are hardly any (Han) in Tibet.' On September 25, 1988 Mao Rubai, Vice- Chairman of the TAR, admitted that there were a million Chinese in the TAR, though he did not say how many were settlers, and probably did not intend to say it at all. 2.2 million Tibetans live in the TAR; it is the only region left in China where the Chinese are not in the majority. (Selected Works of Mao, vol 5, p73; Press Trust of India; China Reconstructs September 1987)

A Chinese estimate has suggested that 58% (c 70,000) of the population of Lhasa is Chinese. In Shigatse and most other towns in U'Tsang there are now large Chinese conurbations dwarfing the old Tibetan quarters. (Graham Clarke, China's Reforms of Tibet, IDS, Sussex 1987)

Amdo(Qinghai)

In 1953 there were estimated to be 100,000 Chinese in the province of Qinghai, most of which is made up of the Tibetan province of Amdo. In 1985 there were 2.5 million Chinese and 0.75 million Tibetans in Qinghai. (Chinese Satistical Yearbook 1985)The resettlement process is evident to any visitor. For example: The Dalai Lama's home town now has 40 Chinese households to 8 Tibetans, where there were none in his childhood (1930s).

Kham (Sichuan)

In the Mili and Ngapa regions of Kham, now annexed to Sichuan, the Chinese say there are about half a million Chinese to about a third of a million Tibetans. In the Khartze region the Chinese population has doubled since 1955 while the Tibetan population has increased by only a quarter. (Radio Lhasa)

TSG.UK campaigns for the right of Tibetans to decide their own future and for an end to violation of their fundamental " rights and freedoms. It is independent of all governments and is funded by its members and supporters.

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