Human Rights and Democracy Report 2016 - CHAPTER VI: Human Rights Priority Countries - China

In 2016, the UK continued to have significant human rights concerns in China, particularly in relation to civil and political rights which were subject to increasing restrictions. There were some improvements in economic and social rights. China introduced White Papers on judicial reform which included emphasis on governance through law. The UK and China co-operated to reduce modern slavery and law enforcement agencies worked with China to tackle human trafficking.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson raised human rights, including the crackdown on lawyers and activists in China at the 2016 UK- China Strategic Dialogue

Space for civil society was constrained. New laws and regulations, including China’s first Cyber Security Law, further restricted freedom of expression. China’s first Charity Law helped put more domestic NGOs on a legal footing. However, a new Foreign NGO (FNGO) Management Law, which took effect on 1 January 2017, risked disrupting links with civil society outside China. Courts accepted some cases against the government on LGB&T issues. However, ‘conversion therapy’ remained widely available despite criticism by the UN Committee Against Torture.

There were continued restrictions on minority and religious groups, particularly in Tibet and Xinjiang. Online and media censorship continued and prominent bloggers, including Druklo (aka Shokyang), were sentenced to prison. In Tibet, there were reports of demolitions of homes and religious buildings and self-immolation. Requests for human rights monitoring visits to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) were refused.

The UK was increasingly concerned about the ‘709’ human rights lawyers and associates. Many, including Li Heping, continued to be held without trial. Others, like Zhou Shifeng, were tried without their choice of legal counsel. Some, including Wang Yu, were released following televised confessions but remained subject to strict bail conditions. Family members and friends were targeted. The handling of these cases ran contrary to China’s commitment to rule of law reforms.

The UK continued to monitor developments closely and supported projects in priority areas including modern slavery, torture prevention, the death penalty, women’s rights, and civil society. We assess that this co-operation contributed to improvements in women’s rights, including strengthening implementation of China’s first domestic violence law.

The UK raised human rights with China robustly and at every level. The UK-China Human Rights Dialogue remained an important channel for relaying a full range of concerns and cases. The 2016 Dialogue focused on pre-trial detention and the importance of an active civil society. We continued to act on cases of concern, including working with international partners and NGOs in China and the UK.

The UK attempted to observe trials, though we were often obstructed by the authorities. We maintained contact with human rights defenders and their families. We raised human rights in China in bilateral and joint statements at the UN Human Rights Council. We supported EU statements and called publicly for the release of detained human rights lawyers and related cases.

In 2017, restrictions are likely to continue, affecting groups that may include lawyers and members of NGOs. Some of those detained in the ‘709’ crackdown may face trial. The operating environment for some foreign NGOs is likely to become more challenging as a result of the FNGO Management Law. We expect to work with China bilaterally and through the UN and G20 to combat all forms of modern slavery.

We will continue to raise human rights and values issues through a range of channels, both publicly and privately.

Finally, in this 20th year since the handover of Hong Kong to China, we assess that the Special Administrative Region is generally working well. Its success continues to be based on the high degree of autonomy, rule of law, independent judiciary and other rights and freedoms set out in the legally-binding Sino-British Joint Declaration. We continue to monitor implementation of the Joint Declaration through Six Monthly Reports to Parliament, and to act on cases of concern. For example, during 2016 we consistently raised concerns relating to the case of the Hong Kong bookseller Lee Po.