A/HRC/11/25* 24. In China’s National Report, the HKSAR and MSAR Governments provided separate accounts of the situations in the territories of Hong Kong and Macao. The two regions were represented by their senior officials. 25. The delegation noted that, due to time constraints, the presentation could not cover all China’s efforts to promote and protect human rights and elaborate on its difficulties and challenges. The delegation would try its best to address questions, including those unanswered written questions in a candid and open manner and respond to the recommendations responsibly. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 26. During the interactive dialogue, statements were made by 60 delegations. Fifty-five delegations were not able to make their statements.*** A large number of delegations congratulated China for its informative and comprehensive national report and its open presentation. Numerous delegations welcomed China’s commitment to the UPR process and its constructive and cooperative participation. Statements were made welcoming the broad-based consultation with stakeholders in the preparation of the national report. 27. Australia welcomed the considerable improvements made by China over the past 30 years, but expressed concern that Chinese officials continue to repress religious activities considered to be outside the State-controlled religious system. Noting grave concerns about reports of harassment, arbitrary arrest, punishment and detention of religious and ethnic minorities, including Tibetans, it recommended that China: (a) strengthen the protection of ethnic minorities’ religious, civil, socio-economic and political rights. While encouraged by positive developments in the handling of death-penalty cases, it remained concerned about the reportedly high number of executions and lack of transparency in such cases and recommended that China; (b) abolish the death penalty and, as interim steps, reduce the number of crimes for which the death penalty can be imposed and publish figures on executions. Welcoming the softening of media regulations for foreign journalists and encouraging China to ensure restrictions are not imposed on journalists’ access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and to rural areas, it recommended (c) that the new regulations be extended to Chinese journalists. Australia further recommended that China (d) respond positively to outstanding visit requests by special procedures and issue a standing invitation; (e) ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)as quickly as possible and with minimal reservations; (f) establish a national human rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles; and (g) investigate reports of harassment and detention of human rights defenders, including alleged mistreatment while in police custody, with a view to ending impunity. 28. Canada welcomed the measures taken to reduce immediate death sentences, reserving them for “exceptionally grave” crimes and reinstating Supreme People’s Court authority to review death sentences. Canada expressed deep concern about reports of arbitrary detention of ethnic minorities members, including Tibetans, Uighurs and Mongols *** Norway, Denmark, Chile, Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mauritius, Luxembourg, Serbia, Slovakia, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Botswana, BosniaHerzegovina, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syrian Arab Republic, Nigeria, Ukraine, Maldives, Nepal, Djibouti, Kuwait, Chad, Belarus, Ireland, Burundi, Azerbaijan, Romania, Albania, Afghanistan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece, Montenegro, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Rwanda, Uganda, Timor-Leste, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Niger, United Republic of Tanzania, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Mongolia, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon. 6 GE. 09-16299