composition of the population, especially of Tibet, he asked the representative of China to explain whether his Government encouraged immigration, for example, by means of incentives. Some measures, while not CERD/C/SR.869 page 11 directly discriminatory, might have a discriminatory effect if, as a result of such immigration, certain privileges, for instance with regard to place of residence, housing or wages, were accorded to Han immigrants to Tibet. If that were the case, he drew attention to the provisions of article 5 (d) (i). With regard to family planning, he understood from the reports that the rules on birth control applied equally throughout the country, regardless of the minority or majority status of the various groups. He asked for confirmation that there was no distinction between the various ethnic groups in regard to permission to marry and treatment of children. If that were the case, could the Chinese authorities accept the idea that small minority groups would be more seriously affected, and even endangered, by birth control, and that some of those groups should be treated separately? He welcomed the new provisions, particularly the new Law on Administrative Proceedings, reported in paragraphs 51 and 52 of the fourth periodic report (CERD/C/179/Add.l) on the right to use local languages in administrative proceedings and courts. They were, however, contradicted to some extent by the statement in paragraph 58 of the same report that kindergartens "may" use the local minority language, which suggested that such languages were merely optional in relation to the dominant language. His impression was that article 8 of the new Law referred to in paragraph 52 would have little effect. He also requested further information on the teaching of languages in schools and higher educational establishments throughout China and the autonomous regions. If Mandarin were the main language of 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the composition of the population, immigration, family planning, and education, all of which are related to the rights and treatment of minority groups. It seems to be focused on the human rights aspect of these issues.

**Category**
Education, Humanitarian aid and relief