Couple of corrections for you folks.
1. Genuine HGH is still made in China. The product formally known as Jin...... is re- badged and sold legally by prescription only. A Checked fact. Given the high levels of corruption, which China is slowly working to reduce, it is conceivable that some of this product might make it's way onto the black market - although I have no evidence to support this, and would never trust a supplier claiming to be selling real Jin.
2. According to Amnesty International, of the 1,252 confirmed executions in 25 countries worldwide, at least 470 people were executed in China during 2007. The exact number is a state secret, and unofficial figures are much higher(1). Not surprisingly, there are concerns over the fairness of some trials, and of course human rights issues. A couple of interesting points here. One, a high profile government official to be executed in recent times was Zheng Xiaoyu, former director of China's F.D.A. Secondly, the fact that the families of executed criminals have been known to be charged a 'bullet fee' for the said execution. Nice eh?
Quick non-related rant from me: A high profile, but undiscussed feature of the Beijing Olympics that truly sickened me, was the amazing high tech centerpiece, the main Olympic arena, National Stadium. A truly magnificent structure of unprecedented technical, engineering and architectural magnitude; in essence, walls of giant T.V screens enclosing the world's largest steel structure. At a cost of $420 million U.S, I couldn't help but wonder how many bowls of rice that might provide for the hundreds of millions of chinese without electricity, safe drinking water, indoor plumbing or education greater than the ability to read a few prescribed texts(2). All this from a 'socialist' country with a global trade surplus of $102 billion U.S in 2005, and a trade surplus with the U.S of $206.1 billion U.S in the same year(3). Kinda took the edge off some of the spectacle for me.
Having said that, I am also not ignorant to the massive task of credible reform taking place in China on every level. It's easy to pick on China, but easy also to recognise the size and magnitude of the job ahead for that great nation, in addition to the factual positives that they have also achieved in such a short span of modern history. It's just that that bloody great half a billion dollar Olympic bird's nest bothered me somewhat. A bit like setting up a banquet fit for a king, in the middle of starving refugee camp. Not what I call 'in good taste' to put it mildly.
O.K. Rant over. Please don't follow up with any form of 'China bashing'. That wasn't at all my intent. Nor was it to hijack this thread - so on that note...
Peace and Good Health. ( And a big hello to our respected and admired friends in China
)
1.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China#cite_note-1
2.
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5210
3.
http://www.factmonster.com/country/profiles/china.html