The UK Government is Concerned about Human Organ Harvesting in China

Regarding organ harvesting in China, the UK Foreign Office has expressed their concern. In a statement dated late March, the Foreign Office said: “The UK Government is concerned about the practice of organ harvesting from prisoners subject to the death penalty in China and reports of illegal trafficking of organs. We understand that some 600,000 people in China each year require organ transplants and that there is a great shortage of organs due to social taboos about transplants. We also understand that the Chinese Government has acknowledged the practice of organ harvesting from these prisoners and the trade in their organs.”

The Foreign Office said: “We are concerned about the use of such prisoners' organs.” They also said: “Should we obtain other information in the future which substantiates the claims, we would certainly consider raising the issue with the Chinese authorities.”

The Foreign Office expressed a supportive view: “The Government continues to have concerns about human rights abuses against Falun Gong adherents in other contexts and will continue to raise those on appropriate occasions with the Chinese authorities.”