To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to press for an independent investigation into the shooting of Tibetan refugees in September 2006 by Chinese border guards; and if she will make a statement. (121039)

The EU urged the Chinese Government to investigate the incident at the Nangpa Pass, at the last round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, held in Beijing on 19 October 2006. The Chinese Government confirmed that the incident had taken place and promised to give further information. The EU followed up on 19 December 2006 and was told by the Chinese authorities that the incident was a border management issue and there was nothing new to report. We raised the incident at the most recent round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 5 February 2007 and urged the Chinese Government to fully investigate reports of ill-treatment of the people detained during the shooting.