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, January 09, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese activist Wu Gan appeals subversion sentence
吴淦案上诉状提出「人民有权颠覆政权」
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/wugan-appeal-01082018163747.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/appeal-01082018090257.html

司法部副部长在第十届中国律师论坛上作报告 (Ministry of Justice deputy delivers work report at Chinese Lawyer Forum: “Revision of Lawyers Law must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought”)
Central People’s Government, January 8, 2018
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-01/08/content_5254469.htm

2017中国律师行业最受关注事件和人物发布 (Ministry of Justice, Legal Daily: Formation of CPC Committee for nation’s legal profession gets top spot in list of 10 most notable events, persons in legal profession of 2017)
Legal Daily, January 8, 2018
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2018-01/08/content_7442396.htm?node=5955

Access to Information (信息公开)

China says it shut down 128,000 websites in 2017
Voice of America, January 8, 2018
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-says-it-shut-down-128000-websites-in-2017/4199229.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China's women break silence on harassment as #MeToo becomes #WoYeShi
The Guardian, January 9, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/09/china-women-break-silence-harassment-metoo-woyeshi

Chinese authorities demolish one church, close another, in December
西安一天主教堂遭强拆三百教友请愿
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/churches-01082018181109.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ql1-01082018102918.html

疑农地收益遭侵吞 东莞麻涌镇村民包围派出所 (Villagers in Guangdong storm police station over land rights dispute)
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-01082018103311.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China says 27 of 31 regions met low carbon targets to help tackle climate change
Reuters, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2127405/china-says-27-31-regions-met-low-carbon-targets-help

「北京切除」後,20萬拾荒者去哪了? (Where did 200,000 scavengers go after mass eviction in Beijing?)
The Initium, January 8, 2018
https://theinitium.com/article/20180109-mainland-beijing-scanvengers-after-eviction/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

中国打造全球最大DNA数据库 采集手法引发争议 (Controversy arises as China gathers DNA of its citizens and builds world’s largest DNA data center)
The Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2018
http://cn.wsj.com/gb/20180108/BCH112431.asp

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

Rights situation in Xinjiang has “further deteriorated” in recent months: CECC
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/rights-01082018162656.html

Related:
Chairs raise alarm about deteriorating human rights situation in Xinjiang
Congressional-Executive Commission on China, January 8, 2018
https://www.cecc.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairs-raise-alarm-about-deteriorating-human-rights-situation-in

Rising tide of jihadists stopped trying to return to China, Chinese advisers say
South China Morning Post, January 8, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2127352/rising-tide-jihadists-stopped-trying-return-china

Uyghur detentions continue in Xinjiang, despite pledge to end with party congress
Radio Free Asia, January 8, 2018
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/detentions-01082018164453.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Defense says Hong Kong democracy activists face “unconstitutional, unnecessary” charges in Umbrella Movement trial
Hong Kong Free Press, January 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/09/defence-says-hong-kong-democracy-activists-face-unconstitutional-unnecessary-charges-umbrella-movement-trial/

屋宇署證實鄭若驊及丈夫潘樂陶海詩別墅寓所有多處僭建 (Buildings Department confirms multiple illegal structures at justice chief Teresa Cheng and husband’s villas)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 9, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1374160-20180109.htm

Related:
No integrity issue, Hong Kong’s leader says, defending justice chief in illegal structure saga
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2127436/no-integrity-issue-hong-kongs-leader-says-defending-justice

Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemns recent attacks on judges after court jails retired cop Frankly Chu
Hong Kong Free Press, January 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/09/chief-executive-carrie-lam-condemns-recent-attacks-judges-court-jails-retired-cop-frankly-chu/

Related:
Hong Kong police union demands officers be exempt from criminal liability at work
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2127370/hong-kong-police-union-demands-officers-be-exempt-criminal

Hong Kong activists announce 8 locations for Sunday primaries ahead of legislative by-elections
Hong Kong Free Press, January 9, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/09/hong-kong-activists-announce-8-locations-sunday-primaries-ahead-legislative-elections/

Related:
Hong Kong by-election hopeful attacked by two men after being sent razor and threatening letter
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2127449/hong-kong-election-hopeful-attacked-two-men-after-being

Advice from government bodies to Hong Kong’s universities could amount to meddling, lawmaker says
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2127368/advice-government-bodies-hong-kongs-universities-could

Death of girl, 5, sparks calls for more help for Hong Kong schools in tackling child abuse cases
South China Morning Post, January 9, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2127446/death-girl-5-sparks-calls-more-help-hong-kong-schools

China's legal move into train station hits Hong Kong rule of law, bar chief says
Reuters, January 8, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-law/chinas-legal-move-into-train-station-hits-hong-kong-rule-of-law-bar-chief-says-idUSKBN1EX1NP

Related:
In Full: New Hong Kong justice minister Teresa Cheng says rule of law “not compromised”
Hong Kong Free Press, January 8, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/08/full-speeches-hong-kongs-chief-justice-justice-secretary-start-legal-year/

Commentary (评论)

院校自主 不容中聯辦干預 (University's autonomy shouldn’t be interfered by Liaison Office)
Inmediahk, January 9, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1054408

Has Xi fully consolidated his power over the military?
The Diplomat, January 8, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/has-xi-fully-consolidated-his-power-over-the-military/

China’s war on poverty could hurt the poor most
Foreign Policy, January 8, 2018
http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/08/chinas-war-on-poverty-could-hurt-the-poor-most/

China: France’s Macron should spotlight rights
中国:法国马克龙应强调人权
Human Rights Watch, January 8, 2018
EN: https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/08/china-frances-macron-should-spotlight-rights
CH: https://www.hrw.org/zh-hans/news/2018/01/08/313084