Western countries press China on minority rights, Hong Kong law as UN body reviews its rights record

Western countries have used a U.N.-backed review of China's human rights record to press Beijing to do more to allow freedom of expression, protect the rights of ethnic minorities and repeal a security law in Hong Kong that is derided by independent activists, among other things. China’s ambassador in Geneva, Chen Xu, led a delegation from some 20 ministries in China for the review under the U.N. Human Rights Council. He stressed China’s progress in poverty eradication, said citizens engage in “democratic elections” and said freedom of religious belief is safeguarded.