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.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

A fourth update on lawyer Li Chunfu’s situation: “What are you hiding from me?”
China Change, January 17, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/01/17/a-fourth-update-on-li-chunfus-situation-what-are-you-hiding-from-me/

Related:
709 Lawyer Released on Bail in Psychological Distress
“709”被捕律师李春富取保候审,身心状况异常
Human Rights in China, January 13, 2017
EN: http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/hric-bulletin/709-lawyer-released-bail-psychological-distress
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/zhong-guo-ren-quan-jian-xun/709bei-bu-lu-shi-li-chun-fu-qu-bao-hou-shen-shen-xin

Access to Information (信息公开)

China orders local forecasters to stop issuing smog alerts
Deutsche Welle, January 18, 2017
http://www.dw.com/en/china-orders-local-forecasters-to-stop-issuing-smog-alerts/a-37170575

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China tightens party loyalty requirements in sensitive year
Reuters, January 17, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-education-media-idUSKBN1510IF

Demolition, expulsions stop for now at Larung Gar
Radio Free Asia, January 17, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/stop-01172017131906.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China orders registration of app stores
加强监管,中国要求应用商店备案
The New York Times, January 14, 2017
EN: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/14/business/china-orders-registration-of-app-stores.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20170116/china-orders-registration-of-app-stores/

Related:
下载运用软件须报批 中国网络监控扩及手机平台 (Records need to be filed for downloading apps, China’s Internet monitoring extends to smartphone platforms)
Radio France Internationale, January 17, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/ 20170117-下载运用软件须报批-中国网络监控扩及手机平台

国家网信办启动互联网应用商店备案工作 (Cyberspace Administration of China starts work on record filing of Internet app stores)
Cyberspace Administration of China, January 13, 2017
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2017-01/13/c_1120308336.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

C.Y. Leung delivers final policy address to polarized Hong Kong
South China Morning Post, January 18, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2063101/cy-leung-delivers-final-policy-address-polarised-hong-kong

Related:
In final speech, Hong Kong leader warns on independence push
Associated Press, January 18, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/hong-kong-leader-warns-on-independence-push-in-final-speech/2017/01/17/9ae8de1c-dd39-11e6-8902-610fe486791c_story.html

引言總結過去4年施政 梁振英:港沒獨立或任何形式分離空間 (A summary of the past four years’ policies in opening remarks, C.Y. Leung: There is no room for independence or separation of any kind for Hong Kong)
Mingpao, January 18, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170118/s00001/1484709216416

梁振英:高度自治按《基本法》 不是完全及隨意自治 (C.Y. Leung: “High degree of autonomy” under the Basic Law is not complete or arbitrary autonomy)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 18, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1308355-20170118.htm

The elites who want to run Hong Kong are desperately trying to show they’re one of the people
Quartz, January 18, 2017
https://qz.com/886681/the-elites-who-want-to-run-hong-kong-are-desperately-trying-to-show-theyre-one-of-the-people/

China warns Hong Kong activists over meetings with Taiwan independence groups
Radio Free Asia, January 17, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-taiwan-01172017143918.html

Education Bureau under fire for hasty introduction of mandatory Basic Law course in secondary schools
Hong Kong Free Press, January 18, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/18/education-bureau-fire-hasty-introduction-mandatory-basic-law-course-secondary-schools/

Related:
教局突增中學《基本法》課時要求 (The Education Bureau introduces required teaching time of the Basic Law in secondary schools)
Apple Daily, January 17, 2017
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20170117/19899678

Commentary (评论)

Beijing should heed growing public anger at China’s filthy air
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2062735/beijing-should-heed-growing-public-anger-chinas-filthy-air

鼓吹错误思潮危及国家政治安全 (Advocacy of erroneous ideologies threatens the state’s political security)
People’s Court Daily, January 18, 2017
http://rmfyb.chinacourt.org/paper/html/2017-01/18/content_120959.htm