Guest Comments by Law Yuk-kai, Patrick Poon and Emily Lau

GENEVA, Switzerland – We welcome expressions of deep concern by representatives from many countries about China’s human-rights record. The comments emerged here on February 9 at a first Universal Periodic Review by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Many countries, like Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden, recommended that China should improve. The issues include harassing human-rights defenders and lawyers, the death penalty, re-education through labour and administrative detentions, cultural and religious rights of ethnic minorities (especially Tibetans), lack of judicial independence, free expression and more.

Representatives from 115 countries signed up to speak at China’s UPR, but only 60 could make two-minute speeches at the three-hour meeting. Then Li Baodong, China’s ambassador to the UN, said he regretted that some countries had “politicised” certain issues, like those on ethnic minorities. He singled out Australia for its “ill-founded” and “politicised” comments.

As spokespeople for Hong Kong NGOs, we deplore such narrow-mindedness and urge Beijing to listen to opposing views. Given China’s poor record, widespread international concern is understandable.

We were disappointed that Hong Kong’s problems weren’t addressed adequately. Even the British government failed to take up any issue on Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, we appreciate the attention focused on China’s gross human-rights violations.

The authors represent Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group and the Democratic Party of Hong Kong.

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