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.

Thursday, May 04, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Breaking: Lawyer Chen Jiangang, with family and two friends, seized by armed police in Yunnan
China Change, May 3, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/05/03/breaking-lawyer-chen-jiangang-with-family-and-two-friends-seized-by-armed-police-in-yunnan/

Related:
中国709案在押律师辩护律师被抓 (Defense lawyer for 709 detained lawyers is arrested)
Voice of America, May 4, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/defense-attorney-for-xie-yang-detained-in-yunnan/3837258.html

Chinese dissident Hu Jia “critically ill” in Beijing hospital
北京知名异议人士胡佳病重入院 家属紧急探望
Radio Free Asia, May 3, 2017
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hujia-health-05032017142230.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-05032017102252.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

New regulations consolidate control over online news
China Digital Times, May 3, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/05/updated-regulations-consolidate-control-online-news/

Related:
“世界新闻自由日”前夕 中国再发新规管控媒体 (On the eve of “World Press Freedom Day,” new regulations to control Chinese media)
Radio Free Asia, May 3, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/yf1-05032017102428.html

VOA suspends reporters over live stream of Chinese tycoon's graft accusations
Reuters, May 3, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-corruption-usa-media-idUSKBN17Z0CV

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Owners’ angry protests show why Beijing must tip toe in curbing the property market
South China Morning Post, May 4, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2092721/beijing-home-buyers-protest-over-rule-cuts-value-new

Thousands protest chemical plant pollution in China's Hebei
Radio Free Asia, May 3, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hebei-pollution-05032017161045.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Where are all the ordinary people in China's hit anti-corruption show “In the Name of the People”?
Global Voices, May 3, 2017
https://globalvoices.org/2017/05/03/where-are-all-the-ordinary-people-in-chinas-hit-anti-corruption-show-in-the-name-of-the-people/

China now links graft suspects to investor migration, but alarms have been ringing in Canada for years
South China Morning Post, May 3, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2092538/china-now-links-fugitives-investor-migration-alarms

Hong Kong (香港)

Xi Jinping must calm “hearts and minds” of Hong Kong, says Patten
The Guardian, May 4, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/04/xi-jinping-must-calm-hearts-and-minds-of-hong-kong-says-patten

Hong Kong democracy advocates urge U.S. Congress to get tough with Beijing to protect city’s freedoms
South China Morning Post, May 4, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2092906/hong-kong-democracy-advocates-urge-us-congress-get-tough

Related:
Video: Will the Hong Kong model survive? Martin Lee, Joshua Wong, Chris Patten speak to U.S. committee
Hong Kong Free Press, May 3, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/05/03/%f0%9f%94%b4-live-will-hong-kong-model-survive-martin-lee-joshua-wong-chris-patten-speak-us-committee/

Commentary (评论)

Stand up for democracy in Hong Kong
The New York Times, May 3, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/opinion/stand-up-for-democracy-in-hong-kong.html