UK MPs Raise Parliamentary Questions on the Human Rights of Falun Gong Practitioners in China and Hong Kong

On 12 June 2003, Mrs. Calton MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs “what recent steps he has taken to support the human rights of Falun Gong practitioners in (a) China and (b) Hong Kong?”

On the same day, Mr. Spring MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs “what discussions he had with the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China regarding article 23 of the basic law of Hong Kong during his visit here?”

The Foreign Office Minister Mr. Rammell stated in his reply “the Foreign Secretary discussed our concerns about Article 23 legislation with the Chinese Foreign Minister on 25 June.”

“These concerns were outlined in a press statement about Article 23 legislation that I issued on 30 June.”

He also stated “We have followed closely developments involving Falun Gong in Hong Kong and have reported on these in the Foreign Secretary's regular reports to Parliament on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. Falun Gong remain free to practise in Hong Kong. We have raised the question of Falun Gong with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government in the context of their preparations to implement national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.”