BRUSSELS, April 22 (AFP) - Jose Ramos-Horta, the East Timorese Nobel peace prize winner, on Tuesday accused France of submitting to "economic gangsterism" by refusing to support UN criticism of Beijing's human rights record.

Addressing the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Ramos-Horta said the failure of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva to adopt a resolution on China earlier this month "stands as an ominous omen for the fate of Hong Kong."

China comfortably saw off a critical resolution proposed by Denmark after France had blocked a common European Union position in support of a condemnation.

The move resulted in the collapse of the western coalition in favour of a resolution with three other EU states, Australia and Canada all changing sides in the debate in response to threats of economic reprisals from China.

"If every country with democratic ideals were to surrender all its principles for economic short-term interest, to submit to economic gangsterism, it would lead to the collapse of the international rule of law," Ramos-Horta said.

He paid tribute to Denmark and the Netherlands for pressing ahead with the resolution despite threats from China that their trade interests would be hurt.

"The courage and integrity of these two small countries should be an example and an inspiration to all the others," he said.

"It is possible to reconcile economic relations and trade with values you believe in."