Government from the exploitation of natural resources in Tibet. The Government had said in paragraph 17 of the fourth report (CERD/C/179/Add.l) that state aid to Tibet had amounted to 15.97 billion yuan between the early 1950s and 1988. However, according to the Tibet Information Network and Radio Lhasa, in the same period the central Government had derived 200 billion yuan from timber and 80 billion yuan from the sale of works of art and religious artefacts abroad, as well as hard currency earned from tourism. Moreover, the central Government had allegedly earned 28 million yuan from the mining of mineral deposits in the Ngari region of Tibet in 1987 alone. Even at the most conservative estimate, therefore, the central Government seemed to have earned at least 10 times as much from Tibet as it had granted the region in state aid. He would welcome any comments from the representative of China on that point. The modalities of racial discrimination as practised against Tibetans in the Autonomous Region of Tibet included restrictions on the freedom of movement provided for in article 5 (d) (i) of the Convention. According to information received from the Minority Rights Group, such restrictions had existed long before the imposition of martial law in 1989, but had not always been strictly applied. Ordinary Tibetans who were not residents of Lhasa could not visit the capital without obtaining passes from three different local authorities and a permit from the city authorities, for which they were required to pay an exorbitant fee. Tibetan pilgrims visiting Lhasa were given CERD/C/SR.869 page 6 a temporary registration permit valid for 15 days, whereas all Chinese received a permit valid for up to three years. Tibetans not resident in Lhasa found it difficult to obtain ration cards, which were issued automatically to Chinese immigrants. 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the exploitation of natural resources in Tibet and the financial benefits derived by the Chinese government from these resources, as well as the restrictions on the freedom of movement and the difficulties faced by Tibetans in obtaining basic necessities. This suggests that the text is related to economic development and the exploitation of natural resources.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Economic development