The Irish section of Amnesty International has called on the President, Mrs McAleese, and the Enterprise Ireland trade mission accompanying her to China to press for "human rights and human security" in meetings with Chinese officials.
Mrs McAleese arrived in Hong Kong yesterday afternoon at the start of a nine-day State visit to China. Accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, and the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, she will be officially welcomed to China when she flies into Beijing tomorrow.
In a statement, the secretary general of Amnesty's Irish section, Mr Colm Ó Cuanachain, said that for business to thrive it is vital that the overall social, civic and political dynamic is stable.
"For that to be assured, human rights and human security must be prioritised by this mission."
Mr Ó Cuanachain said there had been a dramatic rise in labour disputes in China recently, sparked by low wages, corrupt management, mass lay-offs, dangerous working conditions and restrictive working practices in factories.
"Many protests were met with excessive use of force by police, resulting in casualties. Protesters were detained and harassed, and some were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment," he added.
Amnesty has asked the trade and education mission to raise the cases of two Dún Laoghaire students, members of the Falun Gong movement, one who is now in prison in China and the other who has been prevented from returning to Ireland.
A spokeswoman for the President said Mrs McAleese would be mindful of the situation but this was a State visit and it was not appropriate at head of State level to raise individual cases.
These were always dealt with at diplomatic and government level. There would be general discussion of UN values and principles which she hoped would be espoused.
Today the President goes to Government House to meet Mr Tung Chee Hwa, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.