Letter from the Office of the European Commission

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

OFFICE OF THE RT. HON. CHRISTOPHER F. PATTEN, CH

Dear Mr. XX,

Thank you for your letter of 23 October to Chris Patten concerning the escalating persecution of Falun Gong pratitioners in China and the effect of this in Hong Kong. The Commissioner has asked me to reply.

The European Union is committed to strengthening respect for human rights everywhere in the world. They represent a central issue in its relations with third countries. As you can imagine, the European Union is following closely the human rights situation in China.

The EU has on several occasions undertaken formal demarches to express concern about reports of toture and ill treatment of arrested followers of the Falun Gong movement, and the harshness of sentences given to these members. We have urged China to review heavy sentences imposed on Falun Gong practitioners, and to ensure that safeguards of a fair trial, including adequate legal representation, are fully respected with respect to all individuals. We have called on China to comply with the UN human rights covenants it has signed, which include provisions on freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.

A bilateral dialogue on human rights was established between the EU and China in 1996 and in this framework the EU has regularly raised - and is committed to continue raising individual cases of concern, including cases involving Falun Gong practitioners. The issue was also raised during the last round of the dialogue of 29 September in Beijing.

We will continue to follow developments in China closely as well as the impact of Chinese policies of the situation in Hong Kong.

Yours sincerely,

(Signature)

Vicky BOWMAN

Member of Office