Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A. - 1) Rev. Father Vincent Qin Guo-Liang, S.J., who was arrested by Chinese authority in early May 94, released in August, re-arrested on November 3, is now "sentenced" to three years in a labor "reeducation" camp in Xining, Qinghai province. He is a Roman Catholic priest loyal to the Pope.

The "sentence" was not delivered through the proper legal system, but rather arbitrarily handed down by a local authority believed to be a security agency. He had no trial and no defense lawyer. Rev. Qin's name is therefore not on any legal documents and is not recognized as an official prisoner of conscience. He has no freedom of movement and is confined in the camp. Charges against Rev. Qin is unknown, if any. We believe that he has been locked up to prevent his apostolic work.

2) Rev. Gu Zheng of the Diocese of Shanghai was recently arrested by the Chinese Security while he was performing his apostolic work in Xinjiang. He is also a Roman Catholic priest loyal to the Pope. No further information is available.