Beijing says mainland currently unable to adapt to three clauses of United

Beijing has voiced reservations to the United Nations on three clauses of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, despite China agreeing to sign the key document.

The clauses were the right to free association, the end of the death penalty and the right to free mobilisation, a Beijing source said.

The UN Human Rights Office is pushing Beijing to review its laws relating to economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.

'The United Nations allows signatory countries to make reservations on certain clauses and Chinese officials have pointed out that the situation in the country will not allow China to adapt to the three clauses at this stage,' the source said.

China is scheduled to sign the covenant on Monday .

A National People's Congress legislator said: 'We'll need to ratify the constitution if we are to consider expanded freedom in the area of free association. But at this stage, the country's leaders have given priority to political stability instead of changes in political freedom.' The Government has rejected attempts to register opposition parties.

'The crime situation in the country also makes it impossible to restrict the use of the death penalty,' said the legislator.