ÿWPC5 ›f»"¼jPÓ‹n4ÂyÏÆe!QQê>·ÕÀb5e꾤Pe‰ŸéÔáôÛ@}ÿŽŠ¬?“U#=J5Æ ù˜-f >â(³d 7¥R{9 SŠw]Ò]Ž'âôôÜšŒVs¿¡¼²´ ‡×æÌ;bȲÃ_IQT!>†æû”àÔcÄ*·¸Êš&¸šŒšËl=CÛÃIhðË<·m¤6ß–¥êÓ$HK‘õWB¾ùþó2dEv(tÑOïõé]r »£|=:öú)5Óýç¯üºž³$ ôòÚÒ“MØÝE QߨÊwý0A‹v•A$òÄx¾–P¶“4«­ùºÛ$)Nå ßÑ¢Öc>cØ¿`è¹OUŸdvJhâsYŸ‘R¾µÑtäõ«(7b””¥¬0±B`#Ùq´ ÀFnyW§]ØŒ)Ç#®°çÁ÷^ç@m× %Ô™L>Æ-ÛÛá7†ˆŒá2æ[Þs \ˆ³ˆÑ‹Ùâúãi»ñGm#‹ú⇣¶)}ç}nÁ^“¦opå”ëKTMõ˜ÑÝÆ«v”]šÎFà HþZD¨À©&8¡ÞÉɪ˘ܩÄy±K~HÌô:Vã‡`Y9u^¢‡Ö=)ÜšV1ZO UNš %è 0:î^ (w448L[ m]#Át(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô!¯.) ö‹)®3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0Ý ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòP.€Q.€L.€v.€CanadaóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No€57/1996Ð `° ÐÌ17€November€1997Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌCAT/C/19/D/57/1996Ð  ` ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€P.€Q.€L.€(name€deleted)€(represented€by€counsel)€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòState€party€concernedóó:€Canada€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€10€October€1996€óóÐ  p ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ ä4 ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð Ð  ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€17€November€1997,€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€57/1996,€submitted€to€the€CommitteeÐ €Ð Ðagainst€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€orÐ l¼ ÐDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð X ¨ ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€communication,Ð 0"€  Ðhis€representative€and€the€State€party,€Ð #l! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€the€following:€Ð ô$D # ÐÌÌòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóó€Ð ¸'#& ÐÓwÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€P.€Q.€L.,€a€Chinese€national€currently€under€an€order€ofÐ €*Ð%) Ðdeportation€issued€by€the€Canadian€immigration€authorities.€He€alleges€that€his€deportation€to€ChinaÐ l+¼&* Ðwould€constitute€a€violation€by€Canada€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ X,¨'+ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€Ð D-”(, ЇòòThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoróó€Ð ° ÐÌ2.1€P.€Q.€L.€was€born€in€1974€in€Viet€Nam.€His€mother€is€Vietnamese€and€his€father€Chinese.€He€wasÐ ˆØ Ðthree€years€old€when€his€family€fled€from€the€Vietnamese€civil€war€to€China.€They€left€China€inÐ tÄ Ð1988,€and€the€applicant€has€been€living€in€Canada€with€his€family€since€then.€Ð `° ÐÌ2.2€Since€1990,€P.€Q.€L.€has€been€convicted€three€times€for€robbery€and€sentenced€to€terms€of€threeÐ 8 ˆ Ðmonths',€six€months',€and,€finally,€three€years'€imprisonment.€Immigration€Canada€issued€aÐ $ t Ðdeportation€order€on€9€May€1995,€stating€that€P.€Q.€L.€was€a€danger€to€public€order.€He€should€haveÐ  ` Ðbeen€released€on€26€April€1996,€after€serving€his€sentence€of€three€years'€imprisonment,€but€theÐ ü L  Ðimmigration€authorities€ordered€that€he€be€kept€in€jail€while€awaiting€expulsion.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ2.3€The€author€appealed€to€the€Immigration€Commission€against€the€deportation€order,€but€the€appealÐ À  Ðwas€dismissed€on€9€August€1995.€He€then€asked€Immigration€Canada€to€review€his€case,€but€on€6Ð ¬ü  ÐMay€1996€the€Ministry€of€Immigration€concluded€that€there€was€no€risk€of€him€being€subject€toÐ ˜è  Ðtorture€or€inhuman€treatment€by€the€Chinese€authorities€upon€return€to€China.€With€this,€it€isÐ „Ô  Ðsubmitted,€all€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð H˜ ÐÌ3.1€The€applicant€argues€that€his€life€would€be€in€danger€should€he€return€to€China.€He€states€thatÐ  p Ðthere€are€substantial€grounds€for€fearing€that€he€could€be€imprisoned€and€ill-treated€by€the€ChineseÐ  \ Ðauthorities€because€of€his€past€convictions€in€Canada.€He€refers€to€the€Chinese€Criminal€Code,€articleÐ øH Ð7€of€which€states€that€any€crime€outside€China's€territory€is€punishable,€even€if€it€hasÐ ä4 Ðalready€been€tried€in€the€foreign€country€concerned.€He€further€states€that€acts€of€robbery€areÐ Ð  Ðpunished€by€disproportionate€sentences€such€as€10€years€or€life€imprisonment€and€even€the€deathÐ ¼  Ðpenalty.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ3.2€P.€Q.€L.€also€states€that€he€fears€persecution€by€the€Chinese€authorities€because€of€his€VietnameseÐ €Ð Ðorigins.€He€states€that€minorities'€rights€are€not€respected€in€China.€Ð l¼ ÐÌ3.3€The€author€refers€to€the€existence€of€systematic€violations€of€human€rights€in€China.€In€supportÐ D!” Ðof€that€assertion,€he€submits€reports€from€Amnesty€International€referring,€in€particular,€to€arbitraryÐ 0"€  Ðimprisonment,€the€use€of€torture€and€ill-treatment€of€prisoners€and€the€death€penalty€in€China,€as€wellÐ #l! Ðas€of€reports€from€Human€Rights€Watch/Asia€and€other€institutions€and€toÐ $X" Ðnewspaper€articles.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌ3.4€He€further€states€that€China€is€not€party€to€any€treaty€protecting€human€rights€which€would€permitÐ Ì&"% Ðhim€to€address€any€United€Nations€body,€and€that€it€would€not,€therefore,€be€possible€for€him€toÐ ¸'#& Ðobtain€any€protection€if€his€rights€were€violated€in€China.€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ3.5€Finally,€the€applicant€states€that€China€is€a€completely€unknown€country€to€him€because€he€wasÐ |*Ì%) Ðvery€young€when€he€came€to€Canada.€The€parting€caused€by€the€deportation€would€cause€irreparableÐ h+¸&* Ðharm€to€him€and€his€family.€The€author€produces€affidavits€from€members€of€his€family€in€supportÐ T,¤'+ Ðof€this€allegation.€Ð @-(, ЇòòState€party's€observationsóó€Ð ° ÐÌ4.€On€4€November€1996,€the€Committee,€through€its€Special€Rapporteur,€transmitted€theÐ ˆØ Ðcommunication€to€the€State€party€for€comments€and€requested€it€not€to€expel€the€author€while€hisÐ tÄ Ðcommunication€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€Ð `° ÐÌ5.1€By€a€note€dated€14€March€1997,€the€State€party€challenges€the€admissibility€of€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðcommunication€but€also€addresses€the€merits€of€the€case.€It€requests€the€Committee,€should€it€notÐ $ t Ðfind€the€communication€inadmissible,€to€examine€the€communication€on€its€merits€as€soon€asÐ  ` Ðpossible.€It€states€that€the€author€has€not€been€expelled.€Ð ü L  ÐÌ5.2€The€State€party€notes€that€the€communication€dwells€at€length€on€the€disturbing€human€rightsÐ Ô$  Ðsituation€in€China€but€does€not€demonstrate€any€link€between€the€author's€personal€situation€and€theÐ À  Ðgeneral€situation€in€that€country.€It€recalls€that€the€Committee's€case€law€has€established€that€aÐ ¬ü  Ðdisturbing€situation€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€in€itself€constitute€sufficient€grounds€forÐ ˜è  Ðbelieving€that€the€author€of€the€communication€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€toÐ „Ô  Ðtorture.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ5.3€The€State€party€emphasizes€that€neither€in€his€communication€to€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ H˜ Ðnor€in€his€submissions€to€the€Canadian€authorities€has€the€author€claimed€to€have€been€tortured,Ð 4„ Ðarrested,€imprisoned€or€subjected€to€ill-treatment€in€China.€He€does€not€claim€either€to€haveÐ  p Ðparticipated€in€political€activities€or€to€be€known€to€or€sought€by€the€Chinese€authorities.€Ð  \ ÐÌ5.4€The€State€party€notes€that€the€author€says€he€is€afraid€that,€if€he€is€returned€to€China,€he€will€beÐ ä4 Ðarrested€and€sentenced€to€life€imprisonment€or€to€death,€or€that€he€will€be€given€a€disproportionateÐ Ð  Ðsentence€or€subjected€to€inhuman€treatment€under€article€7€of€the€Chinese€Criminal€Code,€whichÐ ¼  Ðdeals€with€the€punishment€of€crimes€committed€outside€China's€territory.€First€of€all,€the€State€partyÐ ¨ø Ðnotes€that€protection€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€is€not€explicitly€provided€in€cases€of€cruel,Ð ”ä Ðinhuman€or€degrading€treatment,€defined€by€article€16€of€the€Convention.€According€to€the€StateÐ €Ð Ðparty,€therefore,€article€3€applies€only€to€the€most€serious€forms€of€cruel,€inhuman€or€degradingÐ l¼ Ðtreatment,€in€other€words,€situations€which€threaten€human€dignity.€The€State€party€also€recalls€thatÐ X ¨ Ðthe€Convention€excludes€from€the€definition€of€torture€"pain€or€suffering€arising€only€from,€inherentÐ D!” Ðin€or€incidental€to€lawful€sanctions".€Therefore,€imprisonment€and€the€normal€conditions€of€detentionÐ 0"€  Ðdo€not€as€such€constitute€torture€as€defined€by€the€Convention€and€interpreted€by€the€Committee.Ð #l! ÐFurthermore,€the€State€party€explains€that€information€obtained€from€the€Canadian€Embassy€in€ChinaÐ $X" Ðsuggests€that€the€Chinese€authorities€will€not€retry€a€person€for€offences€such€as€those€committed€byÐ ô$D # Ðthe€author€in€Canada.€In€any€case,€the€State€party€notes€that€article€7€of€the€Chinese€Criminal€CodeÐ à%0!$ Ðstipulates€that€the€penalty€will€be€either€suspended€or€mitigated€if€the€person€in€question€has€alreadyÐ Ì&"% Ðbeen€punished€in€the€country€where€the€criminal€act€was€committed.€Since€the€author€has€beenÐ ¸'#& Ðpunished€in€Canada€for€his€offences,€punishment€in€China€(if€any)€would€be€mitigated.€Moreover,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðaccording€to€article€150€of€the€Chinese€Criminal€Code,€theft€accompanied€by€threats,€the€use€of€forceÐ )à$( Ðor€similar€measures€is€punishable€by€3€to€10€years'€imprisonment.€According€to€the€State€party,Ð |*Ì%) Ðsentences€of€life€imprisonment€or€the€death€penalty€may€be€imposed€only€where€there€are€aggravatingÐ h+¸&* Ðcircumstances,€if€the€victim€is€seriously€injured€or€killed,€none€of€which€apply€to€the€case€in€question.Ð T,¤'+ ÐThe€State€party€therefore€maintains€that€there€is€no€objective€proof€that€offences€such€as€thoseÐ @-(, Ðcommitted€by€the€author€of€the€communication€would€entail€the€death€penalty€or€life€imprisonmentÐ ° Ðin€China.€The€State€also€points€out€that€it€has€not€informed€the€Chinese€authorities€of€the€author'sÐ œì Ðconvictions.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ5.5€The€State€party€notes€that€the€documentary€evidence€annexed€to€the€author's€arguments€deals,Ð `° Ðnot€with€the€application€of€article€7€of€the€Chinese€Criminal€Code,€but€with€conditions€ofÐ L œ Ðimprisonment€in€China.€It€does€not€support€a€prima€facie€conclusion€that€the€author€would€beÐ 8 ˆ Ðaccused,€sentenced€or€imprisoned.€Ð $ t ÐÌ5.6€The€State€party€notes€that€the€allegations€submitted€by€the€author€to€the€Ministry€of€ImmigrationÐ ü L  Ðare€essentially€the€same€as€those€adduced€in€support€of€his€communication€to€the€Committee.€ItÐ è 8  Ðexplains€that€the€potential€danger€to€the€author,€should€he€return€to€China,€was€examined€by€aÐ Ô$  Ðspecially€trained€official€of€the€Ministry€of€Immigration,€who€concluded€that€the€author's€particularÐ À  Ðcircumstances€did€not€constitute€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€beingÐ ¬ü  Ðsubjected€to€inhuman€treatment€or€disproportionate€sentences€or€of€being€executed€in€China.€TheÐ ˜è  ÐCanadian€Government€refers€to€the€case€law€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee,€according€to€whichÐ „Ô  Ð"it€is€generally€for€domestic€courts€to€assess€facts€and€evidence€in€a€particular€case,€and€for€appellateÐ pÀ Ðcourts€of€States€parties€to€review€the€assessment€of€such€evidence€by€the€lower€courts.€It€is€not€forÐ \¬ Ðthe€Committee€to€question€the€evaluation€of€the€evidence€by€the€domestic€courts€unless€thisÐ H˜ Ðevaluation€was€manifestly€arbitrary€or€amounted€to€a€denial€of€justice".€Ô_ÔValentijnÔ_Ô€v.€France,Ð 4„ ÐCommunication€No.€584/1994,€para.€5.3,€decision€dated€22€July€1996.€The€State€party€maintains€thatÐ  p Ðno€proof€of€bad€faith,€manifest€error€or€denial€of€justice,€that€would€justify€the€intervention€of€theÐ  \ ÐCommittee,€has€been€established€in€the€case€in€question.€Ð øH ÐÌ5.7€In€conclusion,€the€Canadian€Government€asserts€that€the€communication€should€be€rejectedÐ Ð  Ðbecause€it€does€not€establish€substantial€grounds,€prima€facie€and€on€the€merits,€for€believing€thatÐ ¼  Ðthe€author's€expulsion€to€China€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€It€arguesÐ ¨ø Ðthat€the€mere€demonstration€of€the€situation€of€human€rights€in€a€country€is€not€in€itselfÐ ”ä Ðsufficient€to€establish€such€substantial€grounds.€According€to€the€State€party,€the€author's€fears€thatÐ €Ð Ðhe€would€be€imprisoned€or€tortured€under€article€7€of€the€Chinese€Criminal€Codes€is€notÐ l¼ Ðsubstantiated€by€the€evidence€submitted€to€the€Committee.€The€State€party€submits€that€this€evidenceÐ X ¨ Ðdoes€not€provide€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€article€7€of€the€Chinese€CriminalÐ D!” ÐCode€would€be€applied€in€his€case€or€that€it€would€be€applied€in€the€manner€he€alleges€and€with€theÐ 0"€  Ðconsequences€he€suggests.€The€State€party€asks€the€Committee€to€reject€the€communication€becauseÐ #l! Ðit€does€not€establish€the€minimum€basis€necessary€to€ensure€compatibility€with€article€22€of€theÐ $X" ÐConvention€or,€alternatively,€because€it€is€without€merit.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌòòComments€by€the€authoróó€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ6.1€Counsel€for€the€author€alleges€that€the€State€party€has€failed€to€evaluate€the€author's€argumentsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðin€an€objective€and€equitable€way.€According€to€counsel,€international€non-governmentalÐ )à$( Ðorganizations€have€confirmed€the€existence€of€arbitrary€detention,Ð |*Ì%) Ðill-treatment€of€prisoners€and€regular€use€of€torture€since€1993.€Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ6.2€Counsel€submits€that€the€author€would€be€automatically€imprisoned,€retried€and€tortured€underÐ @-(, Ðthe€Criminal€Code€of€the€Republic€of€China.€Furthermore,€since€China€is€not€a€party€to€article€22€ofÐ ° Ðthe€Convention,€the€author€would€not€have€recourse€to€the€Committee€as€a€means€of€obtaining€theÐ œì Ðnecessary€protection.€Counsel€refers€to€the€case€of€a€Chinese€national,€expelledÐ ˆØ Ðby€the€United€States€after€refusal€of€his€application€for€political€refugee€status,€who€was€fined€on€hisÐ tÄ Ðreturn€to€China.€Ð `° ÐÌ6.3€Counsel€recalls€that,€in€its€observations€on€the€occasion€of€the€presentation€of€the€report€of€China,Ð 8 ˆ Ðthe€Committee€had€expressed€concern€about:€(a)€the€failure€to€incorporate€the€crime€of€torture€intoÐ $ t Ðthe€domestic€legal€system,€in€terms€consistent€with€the€definition€contained€in€article€1€of€theÐ  ` ÐConvention;€(b)€the€assertions,€drawn€to€the€attention€of€the€Committee€byÐ ü L  Ðnon-governmental€organizations,€that€torture€occurred€in€China€in€police€stations€and€prisons;€andÐ è 8  Ð(c)€the€failure€to€provide€access€to€legal€counsel€to€persons€at€the€earliest€time€of€their€contact€withÐ Ô$  Ðthe€authorities€and€the€allegations€by€some€non-governmental€organizations€that€the€incommunicadoÐ À  Ðdetention€is€still€prevalent€in€China.€Counsel€concludes€that€the€authorÐ ¬ü  Ðhas€thus€sufficient€reason€to€fear€for€his€life€if€he€is€returned€to€China.€She€maintains€that,€even€if€theÐ ˜è  Ðfacts€submitted€to€the€Committee€may€give€rise€to€certain€doubts,€the€Committee's€role€is€to€ensureÐ „Ô  Ðthe€safety€of€the€individual€concerned.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ6.4€Counsel€submits€that,€for€the€following€reasons,€the€author€would€be€personally€at€risk€if€he€wereÐ H˜ Ðreturned€to€China:€(a)€the€author€had€been€deported€from€Viet€Nam€to€China€when€he€was€three€yearsÐ 4„ Ðold;€(b)€the€Chinese€authorities€are€obviously€aware€of€the€reasons€why€Canada€has€requested€a€travelÐ  p Ðdocument€in€the€author's€name;€(c)€the€Chinese€authorities€are€also€aware€of€the€author's€conviction;Ð  \ Ð(d)€the€author€will€be€turned€over€directly€to€the€Chinese€authorities;€(e)€under€article€7€of€theÐ øH ÐChinese€Criminal€Code,€another€sentence€will€be€imposed;€(f)€article€150€of€the€Code€states€that€theÐ ä4 Ðsentence€may€include€the€death€penalty;€and€(g)€torture€is€common€practice€in€police€stations€andÐ Ð  Ðprisons€in€China.€Ð ¼  ÐÌ6.5€Counsel€argues€that€the€author's€deportation€under€current€circumstances€would€violate€articleÐ ”ä Ð3€of€the€Convention€and€that€its€foreseeable€consequence€would€be€to€place€him€in€genuine€dangerÐ €Ð Ðof€torture.€Ð l¼ ÐÌ6.6€In€a€subsequent€letter,€counsel€denies€that€the€author€is€a€danger€to€the€public€and€argues€that€theÐ D!” ÐCanadian€authorities'€decision€on€that€matter€was€arbitrary,€unreasonable€and€not€supported€by€anyÐ 0"€  Ðevidence.€She€also€maintains€that€the€Ministry€of€Immigration€did€not€give€the€author's€fileÐ #l! Ðcompletely€independent€consideration€and€that€the€legislation€applied€was€very€recent.€Ð $X" ÐÌ6.7€Counsel€notes€that€the€author€has€been€living€with€his€family€since€10€February€1997€and€submitsÐ à%0!$ Ðdocuments€attesting€to€his€rehabilitation€and€reintegration€into€society.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌòòAdditional€observations€by€the€State€partyóó€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ7.1€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€counsel's€allegations€that€the€author€would€be€automaticallyÐ |*Ì%) Ðimprisoned€and€re-sentenced€are€gratuitous.€According€to€the€State€party,€there€is€nothing€to€suggestÐ h+¸&* Ðthat€the€Chinese€authorities€are€aware€of€the€offence€committed€by€the€author€and€there€is€noÐ T,¤'+ Ðevidence€to€support€the€application€and€interpretation€of€article€7€of€the€ChineseÐ @-(, ÐCriminal€Code€suggested€by€counsel.€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€author€has€failed€to€establishÐ ° Ðthe€existence€of€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€imprisoned€and€subjected€toÐ œì Ðtorture€if€he€returned€to€China.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ7.2€With€regard€to€the€question€of€whether€the€author€constitutes€a€danger€to€the€public,€the€StateÐ `° Ðparty€points€out€that€this€is€not€the€issue€before€the€Committee.€Ð L œ ÐÌòòThe€Committee's€admissibility€decisionóó€Ð $ t ÐÌ8.€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€State€party's€statement€that,€in€accordance€with€theÐ ü L  ÐCommittee's€request,€the€author€has€not€been€expelled.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ9.€Before€considering€any€of€the€allegations€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€Torture€mustÐ À  Ðdecide€whether€or€not€the€communication€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ ¬ü  ÐCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€by€article€22,€paragraph€5,€subparagraph€(a),€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been,€and€is€not€being,€examined€under€another€procedureÐ „Ô  Ðof€international€investigation€or€settlement.€It€has€noted€that€all€domestic€remedies€have€beenÐ pÀ Ðexhausted€and€that€it€is€not,€therefore,€precluded€from€considering€the€communication€under€articleÐ \¬ Ð22,€paragraph€5,€subparagraph€(b).€The€Committee€has€found€that€there€is€no€other€obstacle€to€theÐ H˜ Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication€and€has€thus€proceeded€to€consider€the€case€on€it€merits.€Ð 4„ ÐÌòòConsideration€of€the€case€on€its€meritsóó€Ð  \ ÐÌ10.1€The€Committee€has€considered€the€communication€in€the€light€of€all€the€information€madeÐ ä4 Ðavailable€to€it€by€the€parties,€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Convention.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ10.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€or€not€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€China€wouldÐ ¨ø Ðviolate€the€obligation€of€Canada€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expel€a€person€to€anotherÐ ”ä ÐState€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÐ €Ð Ðto€torture.€Ð l¼ ÐÌ10.3€In€reaching€its€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,Ð D!” Ðpursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€article€3,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrantÐ 0"€  Ðor€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€the€determination,€however,€is€to€establish€whetherÐ #l! Ðthe€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€toÐ $X" Ðtorture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistentÐ ô$D # Ðpattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constituteÐ à%0!$ Ðsufficient€grounds€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ Ì&"% Ðtorture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€exist€to€showÐ ¸'#& Ðthat€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistentÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€beÐ )à$( Ðin€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ10.4€The€Committee€notes€that€the€author€claims€the€protection€of€article€3€on€the€grounds€that€heÐ T,¤'+ Ðis€in€danger€of€being€arrested€and€retried€for€the€offences€which€he€committed€in€Canada.€However,Ð @-(, Ðhe€does€not€claim€that€he€has€participated€in€political€activities€in€China,€nor€that€he€belongs€to€aÐ ° Ðpolitical,€professional€or€social€group€targeted€by€the€authorities€for€repression€orÐ œì Ðtorture.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ10.5€The€Committee€adds€that,€according€to€the€information€in€its€possession,€there€is€no€indicationÐ `° Ðthat€the€Chinese€authorities€intend€to€imprison€the€author€because€of€his€Canadian€convictions.€OnÐ L œ Ðthe€contrary,€the€State€party€has€stated€that€judicial€proceedings€are€not€undertaken€in€such€cases.Ð 8 ˆ ÐMoreover,€the€Committee€considers€that,€even€if€it€were€certain€that€the€author€would€be€arrested€onÐ $ t Ðhis€return€to€China€because€of€his€prior€convictions,€the€mere€fact€that€he€would€be€arrested€andÐ  ` Ðretried€would€not€constitute€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ ü L  Ðsubjected€to€torture.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ10.6€Furthermore,€the€Committee€refers€to€the€documents€submitted€by€the€author,€in€support€of€hisÐ À  Ðrequest€for€repeal€of€the€decision€to€revoke€his€permanent€resident€status,€which€allegedly€provideÐ ¬ü  Ðproof€of€his€rehabilitation€and€reintegration€into€Canadian€society.€The€Committee€notes€that€articleÐ ˜è  Ð3€of€the€Convention€authorizes€it€to€determine€whether€return€would€exposeÐ „Ô  Ða€person€to€the€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€but€that€it€is€not€competent€to€determine€whetherÐ pÀ Ðor€not€the€author€is€entitled€to€a€residence€permit€under€a€country's€domestic€legislation.€Ð \¬ ÐÌ10.7€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€seriousness€of€the€human€rights€situation€in€China,€but,€on€theÐ 4„ Ðbasis€of€the€above,€considers€that€the€author€has€not€substantiated€his€claim€that€he€will€be€personallyÐ  p Ðat€risk€of€being€subject€to€torture€if€he€is€returned€to€China.€Ð  \ ÐÌ11.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ ä4 ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€is€of€the€view€that€theÐ Ð  Ðsituation€as€established€by€the€Committee€does€not€reveal€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð ¼  ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€French€text€being€the€original€version.]€