(Clearwisdom.net)

3 December 2002

Dear Ms Liu,

Thank you for your letter of 16 October 2002 to the Prime Minister concerning your sister, Zhuoya. The Prime Minister referred your letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer. I have been asked to reply on Mr Downer's behalf.

The Government is concerned about your sister's situation and will seek information on her welfare from the Chinese Government, through the Australia Embassy in Beijing. To facilitate this, it would be helpful if you could provide the following information to the Department (marked to the attention of the Director, China Political and External Section): your relative's name in Chinese characters, date of birth and last registered residence.

On the broader question of Falun Gong, the Australian Government takes no position on the movement's doctrine or practices. That said, Australia considers that China's ban on Falun Gong breaches fundamental rights of assembly and free expression. Australia also believes China's treatment of Falun Gong members in China contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which China has signed, but not yet ratified, and the Convention Against Torture.

Australia has expressed its views to China many times, and at the highest levels. Australia has raised China's treatment of Falun Gong in various round of the bilateral Human-Rights Dialogue, most recently in August 2002. Regrettably, China's response at those talks did not suggest any softening of its position was likely. But the Government will continue to pursue the issue.

Yours sincerely

(signature)

Elly Lawson

Acting Director

China Political and External Section