The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Appeal begins of harsh 19-year prison term given Xinjiang-based activist Zhang Haitao
China Change, February 21, 2016
http://chinachange.org/2016/02/21/appeal-begins-of-harsh-19-year-prison-term-given-xinjiang-based-activist-zhang-haitao/

Defense attorneys for jailed Chinese rights lawyers “fired”
Radio Free Asia, February 19, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-lawyers-02192016104633.html

Related:
Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers and Defenders
中国大规模镇压维权律师和活跃人士
Human Rights in China, February 5, 2016
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-and-defenders
CH: http://hrichina.org/chs/zhong-guo-da-gui-mo-zhen-ya-wei-quan-lu-shi-he-huo-yue-ren-shi

证监会今年正式开展巡回审理 (China Security Regulatory Commission (CSRC) formally launches circuit hearings this year)
Legal Daily, February 18, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160218/Articel06003GN.htm

Access to Information (信息公开)

Mirror, mirror on the wall
China Media Project, February 22, 2016
http://cmp.hku.hk/2016/02/22/39646/

Related:
Facts be damned. China's president demands media outlets parrot the party line
Global Voices, February 23, 2016
https://globalvoices.org/2016/02/23/facts-be-damned-chinas-president-demands-media-outlets-parrot-the-party-line/

郭声琨:让新闻文化宣传成助推公安事业发展的动力 (Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun: Let media cultural propaganda be the motor for development of public security work)
People’s Daily, February 23, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0223/c1001-28141125.html

“Beijing slaps ban on Hong Kong and Taiwan film awards” amid rising political tensions
South China Morning Post, February 22, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1915635/beijing-slaps-ban-hong-kong-and-taiwan-film-awards-amid-rising

Related:
China bans broadcasts of Hong Kong Film Awards after indie political movie scores nomination
The Hollywood Reporter, February 22, 2016
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-hong-kong-film-awards-868110

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Guangzhou stainless steel factory shut down as strike enters sixth day
China Labor Bulletin, February 22, 2016
http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/guangzhou-stainless-steel-factory-shut-down-strike-enters-sixth-day

Tibetan monk jailed for two years over Dalai Lama photo
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/photos-02222016163847.html

China moves to halt “weird” architecture
中国颁布新规叫停“奇奇怪怪的建筑”
The New York Times, February 23, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/23/world/asia/china-weird-architecture.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160223/c23chinaurban/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China replaces Xiao Gang as securities regulator head over handling of crisis
The Guardian, February 20, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/20/china-replaces-xiao-gang-as-securities-regulator-head-over-handling-of-crisis

Fears of China stealing jobs blocking EU deal
Voice of America, February 22, 2016
http://www.voanews.com/content/european-union-trade-deal-china-jobs-fears/3201407.html

China's industrial overcapacity is “wreaking far-reaching damage”
Deutsche Welle, February 22, 2016
http://www.dw.com/en/chinas-industrial-overcapacity-is-wreaking-far-reaching-damage/a-19060913

湖北年查职务犯罪3021人 (Hubei investigated 3,021 people for crimes of public office last year)
Legal Daily, February 18, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160218/Articel03006GN.htm

中央事业单位中央企业公车改革明确时间表路线图 (A clear roadmap and timetable for reform of use of public vehicles for Central State public and Central State enterprises)
Legal Daily, February 18, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160218/Articel04009GN.htm

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

信息化破解人民调解工作难题 (Informationization solves difficult problems for people’s mediation work)
Legal Daily, February 18, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160218/Articel04012GN.htm

探访中央政法委新媒体团队 (Paying a visit to the New Media Team at the CPC’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Committee)
Legal Daily, February 18, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160218/Articel05004GN.htm

太原警方破获微信群传播淫秽物品案 (Taiyuan police crack case involving pornography dissemination through WeChat circles)
Legal Daily, February 18, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160218/Articel08004GN.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong academic freedom under threat from Beijing, says ex-governor Chris Patten
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/23/hong-kong-academic-freedom-under-threat-from-beijing-says-ex-governor-chris-patten/

Related:
彭定康:北京占中后指示港府在大学挑事端 (Chris Patten: Beijing gives directions to Hong Kong government to incite troubles in universities after Occupy)
British Broadcasting Corporation, February 22, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/02/160222_hk_china_patten

Hong Kong “localist” group vows to keep going after founder's arrest
Radio Free Asia, February 22, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hong-kong-localist-group-vows-to-keep-going-after-founders-arrest-02222016105211.html

Flagship gallery show raises fears for Hong Kong arts
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/23/flagship-gallery-show-raises-fears-for-hong-kong-arts/

【繁簡爭議】黨媒籲勿政治化分「正宗旁門」 指「順其自然才是正道」 ([Dispute over traditional and simplified Chinese characters] Party media recommends not to politicize and differentiate “the orthodox and the heterodox,” “let it take its natural course”)
Ming Pao, February 23, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160223/s00001/1456185840685

Related:
Is TVB adopting a new family name?
Hong Kong Economic Journal, February 23, 2016
http://www.ejinsight.com/20160223-is-tvb-adopting-a-new-family-name/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

A looming crisis for China’s legal system
Foreign Policy, February 22, 2016
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/22/a-looming-crisis-for-chinas-legal-system/

Riot highlights bleak outlook for One Country, Two Systems
Hong Kong Free Press, February 23, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/02/23/riot-highlights-bleak-outlook-one-country-two-systems/