Published by: World Tibet Network News Thursday, September 5, 1996

The Australian Associated Press

Sept 5, 1996

One media source in Beijing said there was a high level of interest in the Dalai Lama's trip to Australia in particular, owing to an apparent increase of tensions and a crackdown by Chinese authorities in Tibet recently.

"There's an interest in finding out if there is anything new in China's attitude to the Dalai Lama's visits overseas and to see how Beijing will react these days to his visits to countries friendly with China," he said.

China has repeatedly drawn scorn from foreign countries for alleged human rights abuses in Tibet, including the repression of religious freedom.

Mr Downer said last month that in his meeting with Premier Li, he had stood firmly by Australia's policies on Tibet -- that it was part of China but that Australia had concerns over human rights issues there.

Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer, during a subsequent visit to China last week, reiterated that Australia had concerns over Tibet, but added China had done some good for the Himalayan region since its forces occupied it in 1950, particularly in the fields of health and education.