SP(2006)0053

Results of vote in Parliament

Debate in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Tibet and Hong Kong.

The resolution had been tabled by the PES, Greens/ALE, EPP-ED, ALDE, and UEN groups.

On Tibet, Parliament demands that the Chinese Government clarifies the circumstances of the death of the young Tibetan Monk, Ngawang Jangchub, who died in mysterious and unexplained circumstances in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa in October 2005 during a 'patriotic education' session conducted by Chinese officials. These sessions force Tibetans to sign declarations denouncing His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist. Parliament is also deeply concerned about the five Tibetan monks belonging to Drepung Monastery in Lhasa who refused to sign the declarations and were arrested on 23 October 2005, imprisoned in Public Security Bureau (PSB) Detention Centres in their respective places of origin and probably been tortured. The resolution calls on the Council and the Commission and Member States as appropriate:

to make strong representations to the Chinese authorities on this issue within the framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, and it expects this dialogue to be more effective with a view to bringing about a substantial improvement in the poor human rights record of China; to maintain the EU embargo on trade in arms with the PRC and not to weaken the existing restrictions on such arms sales;

Parliament also demands once again the immediate release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who is still imprisoned and his state of health unknown.

The Chinese Government is urged to respond to international calls for improvements in the human rights situation in China and to stop the continued violation of the human rights of the Tibetan people and other minorities and ensure that it respects international human-rights standards and principles of humanitarian law.

Parliament’s Conference of Presidents is asked to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to address the European Parliament during 2006.

With regard to Hong Kong, Parliament recalls that the Hong Kong Basic Law provides for Hong Kong's Chief Executive ultimately to be elected by universal suffrage. It calls on the authorities of Hong Kong to set a timetable for universal suffrage acceptable to all democratic parties and the public, and abolish the appointment system in the District Council.

Parliament looks forward to seeing the Chief Executive and all members of the Legislative Council elected by means of an electoral system based on the principles of multi-party democracy, accountability of the government to the legislature and genuinely effective governance, which will confer a clear benefit on all the people of Hong Kong.

T6-0533/2005

B6-0644/2005

B6-0657/2005

B6-0660/2005

B6-0664/2005

B6-0667/2005

RC-B6-0644/2005