Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Chinese human rights lawyer, Li Baiguang, died in a military hospital on 25 February, despite being in good health; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which there might be a pattern of deaths of human rights defenders and dissidents in China.

The British Government expresses deep sadness at the death of Li Baiguang on 25 February 2018. We look to the Chinese authorities to provide comprehensive details of the circumstances surrounding his death.

We are concerned by reports that a number of human rights defenders have died whilst in prison and allegations that they have been denied access to medical treatment.