THE Chinese ambassador to Ireland, Ms Fan Huijuan, has expressed "deep regret" at the decision by RTE to transmit the Channel 4 television programme Return to the Dying Rooms tonight. The programme is "a patchwork of lies" and will not only hurt the feelings of her compatriots, but will also impair understanding between the Chinese and Irish people, Ms Fan has said in a letter published in today's Irish Times.
The programme, which is the second of two reports commissioned by Channel 4 and broadcast on January 9th, is an attempted "attack" on China's family planning policy, the ambassador has said.
RTE said yesterday that the Chinese ambassador or her representative had been invited to participate in a studio discussion after the documentary but had declined. An extract from a Chinese film made in response is to be shown during the discussion, a spokeswoman said.
She also confirmed that the Chinese ambassador had made representations to RTE when it acquired the first Channel 4 documentary on the issue last year, entitled The Dying Rooms. This had not influenced RTE's decision not to broadcast it, said RTE.
"We wanted to check the bona fides of the film makers, and while we were doing so we learned that a second programme was being made. We decided to wait for that."