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, August 09, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

精神卫生法第一案:患者起诉监护人和院方获准出院 (First case for Mental Health Law: Patient sues guardian and hospital personnel, obtains release)
China Youth Daily, August 8, 2017
http://news.cri.cn/20170808/3cba99f6-9bdb-db7e-ac75-c3a96bf2bc69.html

Related:
“Justice came late”: Chinese psychiatric patient wins long battle for freedom in landmark case
South China Morning Post, August 8, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2105935/justice-came-late-chinese-psychiatric-patient-wins-long-battle

庭前会议应开尽开 关键证人应出尽出 非法证据排除程序应启尽启, 刑事庭审实质化改革的山西实践 (Pre-trial meetings, key witnesses, and elimination of illegal evidence should be open, Shanxi puts into practice substantive reform of criminal trials)
Legal Daily, August 7, 2017
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index_article/content/2017-08/07/content_7273768.htm?node=5955

Access to Information (信息公开)

Minitrue: Follow Xinhua’s lead on Jiuzhaigou earthquake
China Digital Times, August 8, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/08/minitrue-follow-xinhuas-lead-jiuzhaigou-earthquake/

High-tech forces gather to reinforce Great Firewall of China
The Irish Times, August 7, 2017
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/high-tech-forces-gather-to-reinforce-great-firewall-of-china-1.3179652

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Agency workers at SOEs take action demanding equal pay
China Labor Bulletin, August 9, 2017
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/agency-workers-soes-take-action-demanding-equal-pay

赵振甲拥护中央成罪案即将开审,在京访民呼吁无罪释放 (Zhao Zhenjia placed on trial for supporting demands for central government accountability, petitioners protest in Beijing for his release)
Weiquanwang, August 8, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.com/2017/08/blog-post_96.html

China marks 70 years of Inner Mongolia's founding, activist complains of curbs
Reuters, August 8, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-innermongolia-idUSKBN1AO0YH

数百访民北京状告国家信访局 遭公安驱赶 (Hundreds of petitioners sue State Bureau of Letters and Calls in Beijing, driven away by police)
Radio Free Asia, August 8, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-08082017103736.html

维权人士北京法院外举牌求见院长 访民京城上访归来被刑拘 (Rights defenders protest outside Beijing court, other petitioners arrested after returning from Beijing)
Radio Free Asia, August 7, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-08072017113415.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

In judicial first, China court rules against government monopoly
Sixth Tone, August 8, 2017
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1000648/in-judicial-first%2C-china-court-rules-against-government-monopoly#

最高检对31个省级检察院开展规范司法行为专项督查 (Supreme People’s Procuratorate launches standardization of judicial supervision in 31 provincial procuratorates)
The Paper, August 7, 2017
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1754733

The “Belt and Road” projects China doesn’t want anyone talking about
South China Morning Post, August 8, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2099973/belt-and-road-projects-china-doesnt-want-anyone-talking-about

江苏:十八大以来查处违反中央八项规定精神问题5321起 (Jiangsu has investigated 5,321 cases of Party principle violation and punished 7,599 people since the 18th Party Congress)
People's Daily, August 9, 2017
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0809/c1001-29458551.html

国家信访局:对群众信访不能“踢皮球” (State Bureau for Letters and Calls: can’t kick the can down the road when dealing with petitioners)
People's Daily, August 9, 2017
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0809/c1001-29458360.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

聚焦APP“越权”现象:看个视频还需监听电话?(Focus Apps “overstepping authority” phenomenon: does watching a video require phone call monitoring?)
China News, August 8, 2017
http://www.chinanews.com/cj/2017/08-08/8298224.shtml

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

Muslim ethnic minority students “incommunicado” after repatriation to China
Radio Free Asia, August 7, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/kazakhs-eqypt-08072017122525.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Ousted pro-democracy lawmaker “Long Hair” to file appeal against disqualification
Hong Kong Free Press, August 8, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/08/ousted-pro-democracy-lawmaker-long-hair-file-appeal-disqualification/

Hong Kong district councillor among 299 arrested after officer’s undercover triad investigation
South China Morning Post, August 8, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2105984/hong-kong-district-councillor-among-299-arrested-after

Lawmakers urge gov’t to form independent investigation into alleged torture of juvenile inmates
Hong Kong Free Press, August 8, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/08/08/lawmakers-urge-govt-form-independent-investigation-alleged-torture-juvenile-inmates/

Commentary (评论)

China’s history full of traps and contradictions
EJ Insight, August 8, 2017
http://www.ejinsight.com/20170808-china-s-history-full-of-traps-and-contradictions/

港澳辦:方案創新 並符合一國兩制及基本法 (Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office: “One place, two checks” is innovative, and is in accordance with “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law)
Mingpao, August 8, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170808/s00001/1502187400829

港大民意调查:逾半受访香港市民支持“一地两检”方案 (Survey: more than half of Hong Kongers support “one place, two checks” plan)
Radio Free Asia, August 8, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/wsw-08082017133834.html

林鄭:希望特區官員抓緊一帶一路發展機遇 (Carrie Lam: Hong Kong gov’t officials should firmly grasp the opportunity of development that “one belt, one road” brings)
Radio Television Hong Kong, August 8, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1347051-20170808.htm