E/CN.4/1995/34 page 26 transferred in March 1994 from Qincheng prison to Fuxing hospital in Beijing after suffering from severe pain from inflammation of the shoulder joints. He was also said to suffer from a reduced white blood cell count, chronic gastritis, growths in his colon and intestines, swollen lymph nodes, constricted salivary glands and arthritis requiring regular injections, and six possibly cancerous tumours in his thyroid gland. His family were allegedly denied access to his medical records and were concerned that he was not receiving adequate medical care. 117. The Government replied that prison authorities had guaranteed the rights of Bao Tao and when he fell ill had provided the necessary medical care. His medical condition was basically stable and his physical condition was normal. 118. By the same letter the Special Rapporteur reminded the Government of a number of cases transmitted in 1993 regarding which the Government had replied that official investigations were pending. Urgent appeals 119. In addition to the above-mentioned cases, the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government of China five urgent appeals on behalf of the persons mentioned in the following paragraphs. The date on which the appeals were sent is stated in parentheses at the end of the corresponding summary. 120. Phuntsog Gyaltsen, a Buddhist monk serving a 12 year prison sentence in Drapchi prison in Lhasa, was reportedly seriously ill and incapacitated, suffering from liver and stomach ailments as a result of sustained beatings received in prison. Despite the state of his health, he was allegedly being forced to perform prison labour, such as digging, emptying toilets and cultivating vegetables. He was said to be in need of urgent medical attention (15 June 1994). 121. On 7 September 1994 the Government replied with respect to this case that no person named Phuntsog Hyaltsen was being held in prison. The Government also stated that prisons in the Tibet Autonomous Region did not practise torture and that the guards respect the legitimate rights of prisoners and always accord them humanitarian treatment. 122. Ulaanshuvu (Wulan Shaobu), a former lecturer at Inner Mongolia University, detained in the Yikezhao No. 5 prison (Ih Ju League No. 5 prison), was reportedly suffering from a deteriorating condition in his one remaining kidney, heart problems and trouble with his feet and back. He was allegedly being denied medical treatment for his ailments, was not receiving adequate food, and had lost a substantial amount of weight (29 August 1994). 123. On 8 October the Government replied that Ulaanshuvu was receiving the same humane treatment and medical care as other offenders and had never been subjected to mistreatment. He was in sound physical health and a hospital check-up revealed that his kidneys and heart were healthy. 124. Qin Yongmin, serving an administrative sentence at Hewan Re-educationthrough-Labour camp in Wuhan City, Hubei province, was reportedly beaten severely by prison guards and a fellow inmate on 8 June 1994, allegedly at the