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.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

維權人士吳淦案天津閉門審理 多人聲援被帶走 (Rights defender Wu Gan faces closed trial today in Tianjin, many supporters taken away by police)
Radio Television Hong Kong, August 14, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1348010-20170814.htm

Related:
The twelve “crimes” of Wu Gan the Butcher
China Change, August 13, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/08/13/the-twelve-crimes-of-wu-gan-the-butcher/

支聯會「尋人啟事」促放劉霞 (Hong Kong Alliance starts poster campaign and demands Liu Xia to be released)
Apple Daily, August 13, 2017
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20170813/20120163

Related:
海內外42團體聯署聲明 促放劉霞及海祭者 (42 groups press for the release of Liu Xia and Liu Xiaobo mourners)
HK01, August 13, 2017
https://www.hk01.com /港聞/111697/-劉曉波逝世一個月-海內外42團體聯署聲明-促放劉霞及海祭者

Tens of thousands demand President Xi frees Liu Xia
Amnesty International, August 11, 2017
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/08/china-tens-of-thousands-demand-president-xi-frees-liu-xia/

杨天水查出脑瘤才保外就医,北京故伎重演? (Political prisoner Yang Tianshui released on medical parole only after brain tumor diagnoses—more of Beijing’s old tricks?)
Radio Free Asia, August 13, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/hc-08132017150651.html

“Released” rights lawyer still held in northern China cave under police guard
Radio Free Asia, August 10, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/cave-08102017160540.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

China introduces new rules to "purify" online video content
DLA Piper, August 10, 2017
https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2017/08/china-introduces-new-rules-for-online-video/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

葛文秀等59位律师联名就《国家监察法(草案)》立法向全国人大公开提出四点建议 (59 lawyers write open letter to NPC making suggestions to the draft of National Supervision Law of the PRC)
Weiquanwang, August 13, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2017/08/59.html

湖南省幼师集体在省政府上访维权已14天 (Hunan kindergarten collectively petition provincial government for 14th day)
Weiquanwang, August 10, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/08/14.html

川震死伤人数持续增加 网民造谣遭查处 (Number of injured in Sichuan quake continues to rise, netizens investigate rumors)
Radio Free Asia, August 10, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/yf2-08102017112402.html

China’s army of green activists
Gulf News, August 11, 2017
http://gulfnews.com/weekend-review/features/world/china-s-army-of-green-activists-1.2071769

Government Accountability (政府问责)

北京:上半年查处违反中央八项规定精神问题242人 (Beijing punishes 242 officials for violating Party principles during first half of 2017)
People.com.cn, August 14, 2017
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0814/c1001-29467435.html

China focus: top-down inspection—China's "secret weapon" for governance
Xinhua, August 11, 2017
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/11/c_136519200.htm

多地探索建公务员诚信档案 公务员失信如何惩戒?(Many government officials investigate establishment of “integrity” files, how to discipline dishonest officials?)
The Paper, August 11, 2017
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2017-08/11/content_7278015.htm?node=5955

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Big data and AI harnessed to perfect the police state in China
The News Lens, August 11, 2017
https://international.thenewslens.com/article/75151

China is investigating its Internet giants over failures to police content—and sending a warning
Quartz, August 10, 2017
https://qz.com/1051539/china-is-investigating-its-internet-giants-tencent-tcehy-baidu-bidu-sina-weibo-wb-over-failures-to-police-content/

Related:
微博回应被调查:深知责任担当,将不断升级技术和人工防控 (Weibo responds to investigation: we recognize well the responsibility we play, will continue to upgrade technological and artificial controls)
The Paper, August 11, 2017
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1760065
腾讯微信回应被调查:严格自查自纠,呼吁广大用户守法 (Tencent responds to investigation: we will stringently self-investigate and self-control, urge users to abide by law)
The Paper, August 11, 2017
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1760154
百度贴吧回应被立案调查:深表歉意,将积极配合进行整改 (Baidu responds to investigation: we deeply apologize, will actively cooperate to initiate rectification)
The Paper, August 11, 2017
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1759976

40城推出“刷脸政务”,“人脸识别”拓出便民新场景 (40 cities launch “facial recognition government services,” develop new conditions for the convenience of the public)
Legal Daily, August 11, 2017
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2017-08/11/content_7279188.htm?node=5955

The great firewall update: Clamping down on VPNs
Al Jazeera, August 12, 2017
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2017/08/great-firewall-update-clamping-vpns-170812090721781.html

Hong Kong (香港)

林子健批警方調查不公道 林卓廷:李家超言論不負責任 (Howard Lam criticizes Hong Kong police for unfair investigation; Lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting calls Secretary for Security’s statement irresponsible)
Mingpao, August 14, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170814/s00001/1502675163955

香港电台BBC频道让给中国央广 (RTHK replaces BBC with China National Radio)
Voice of America, August 14, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/RTHB-BBC-CHINA/3983844.html

Related:
Radio silence: 24-hour broadcast of BBC World Service dropped in Hong Kong
The Guardian, August 13, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/aug/13/radio-silence-24-hour-broadcast-of-bbc-world-service-dropped-in-hong-kong

曾任佔中糾察 郭紹傑被踢出港九拯溺員工會 (Life Guards Union kicks council member out for participating in Occupy Central)
Mingpao, August 13, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170813/s00001/1502635220192

香港《前哨》老总吐苦水“强力部门”恐吓无日无之 (Hong Kong magazine owner complains about constant threats from Chinese authorities)
Radio France Internationale, August 13, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr//中国/20170813-香港前哨老总吐苦水强力部门恐吓无日无之

《前哨》總編:強力部門綁架妻子 恐嚇員工 (Editor in Chief of Hong Kong magazine talks about wife abducted and employees threatened by Chinese authorities)
Apple Daily, August 13, 2017
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20170813/20120053

各方籲放下分歧 周永康:反對派更應建立溝通平台 梁天琦:香港已走向完全專制 (Hong Kong pro-democracy groups hold seminar and talk about tactics against suppression)
The Stand News, August 13, 2017
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/民主運動對策-各方籲放下分歧-周永康-反對派更應建立溝通平台-梁天琦-香港已走向完全專制/"

Hong Kong democracy activists continue campaign for Liu Xia’s release despite alleged kidnapping
South China Morning Post, August 12, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2106564/hong-kong-democracy-activists-continue-campaign-liu-xias

Hong Kong police chief promises thorough investigation of alleged assault on activist by Chinese agents
Hong Kong Free Press, August 11, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/11/hong-kong-police-chief-promises-thorough-investigation-alleged-assault-activist-chinese-agents/

Related:
Torture of Hong Kong Democrat will not stop us fighting for release of dissident’s widow, activists say
South China Morning Post, August 11, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2106479/torture-hong-kong-democrat-will-not-stop-us-fighting-release

Democrat “abduction”: Friend of late Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo criticizes “mainlandisation” of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Free Press, August 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/12/democrat-abduction-friend-late-chinese-dissident-liu-xiaobo-criticises-mainlandisation-hong-kong/

Social worker board remains undecided on punishing pro-democracy activist Ken Tsang for misconduct
Hong Kong Free Press, August 10, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/10/social-worker-board-remains-undecided-punishing-pro-democracy-activist-ken-tsang-misconduct/

Staff of ousted lawmakers say head of legislature should take responsibility for approving controversial oaths
Hong Kong Free Press, August 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/12/staff-ousted-lawmakers-say-head-legislature-take-responsibility-approving-controversial-oaths/

Commentary (评论)

China: Trial of prominent activist “the Butcher” a cruel farce
Amnesty International, August 11, 2017
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/08/china-trial-of-prominent-activist-the-butcher-a-cruel-farce/

Wu Gan’s “trial”—Yet another sad example of China’s political “justice”
Jerry’s Blog, August 11, 2017
http://www.jeromecohen.net/jerrys-blog/2017/8/11/wu-gans-trial