U.S. and Hong Kong (2002)

State Department Noon Briefing, January 28

Following is the State Department transcript:

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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing
January 28, 2002

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

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QUESTION: Have you made any representations to the Chinese Government on the conviction of the Hong Kong bible smuggler?

MR. BOUCHER: I am not sure we have had a chance to get in touch since the news that Mr. Li was sentenced to two years in prison and fined, apparently on charges of illegal trading. There were two mainland colleagues who received three-year sentences as well, according to these reports.

At this point, we are trying to confirm the reports. We have registered concerns and would continue to register our concerns with Chinese authorities in both Washington and Beijing throughout this period since the initial reports. We are troubled that people have been arrested for making religious materials available to Christians in China, and we would expect China to live up to international standards on freedom of religious expression and freedom of conscience that are embodied in the international human rights instruments.

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