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, September 04, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Widow of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo “fighting to stay in Beijing,” friend says
Hong Kong Free Press, September 4, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/09/04/widow-nobel-laureate-liu-xiaobo-fighting-stay-beijing-friend-says/

Related:
成功與劉霞通話 野渡﹕劉霞希望長期留在北京 (Friend: Liu Xia expresses hope to stay in Beijing for the long-term over phone)
Radio Television Hong Kong, September 3, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1352088-20170903.htm

傳返回北京家 民運信息中心:成功通話半小時,劉霞哭泣,每天吃抗憂鬱藥 (Information Center for Human Rights & Democracy: Liu Xia cries over 30-minute phone call and says she has to take anti-depressants everyday)
Stand News, September 2, 2017
https://thestandnews.com/china/返回北京家-民運信息中心-成功通話半小時-劉霞哭泣-每天吃抗憂鬱藥/

Chinese rights lawyers fear tighter control after “lecture” by justice minister
South China Morning Post, September 4, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2109383/chinas-justice-minister-promises-harsh-loving

广东维权人士甄江华被警方带走及抄家 (Human rights defender Zhen Jianghua taken by police in handcuffs from Guangdong residence; phone and computer confiscated)
Radio Free Asia, September 3, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/arrest-09032017094953.html

福建周宁一干部挪用扶贫款放高利贷 获刑4年2个月 (Official in Fujian sentenced to 50 months in prison for embezzling poverty relief fund to become loan shark)
China News, September 3, 2017
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2017/09-03/8321050.shtml

Law criminalizing insults to national anthem passed by China’s legislature, with detention for offenders
South China Morning Post, September 4, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2109381/law-criminalising-insults-national-anthem-passed-chinas

Government Accountability (政府问责)

12,000 officials disciplined and 18,000 companies punished in China’s sweeping crackdown against pollution
South China Morning Post, September 2, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2109342/top-level-china-pollution-inspections-wrapping

Overseas Chinese Affairs Office deputy Li Gang removed from his post
South China Morning Post, September 1, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2109403/overseas-chinese-affairs-office-deputy-li-gang-removed

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

From ale to jail: facial recognition catches criminals at China beer festival
Agence France-Presse, September 1, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/01/facial-recognition-china-beer-festival

Hong Kong (香港)

Memorial event for Liu Xiaobo held on Hong Kong beach, calls for release of his widow
South China Morning Post, September 4, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2109562/memorial-event-liu-xiaobo-held-hong-kong-beach-calls-release

Related:
香港支联会海祭刘晓波促还刘霞自由 (Hong Kong Alliance mourns Liu Xiaobo by the sea and presses for Liu Xia’s freedom)
Radio Free Asia, September 3, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-09032017092747.html

200人遊行聲援在囚政治犯 高喊袁國強下台 (200 people march in support of jailed political prisoners and demand Rimsky Yuen to step down)
Inmediahk, September 3, 2017
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1051851

Demosisto party slams gov’t teaching materials on Chinese national identity
Hong Kong Free Press, September 2, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/09/02/demosisto-party-slams-govt-teaching-materials-chinese-national-identity/

Hong Kong scraps 24-hour BBC World Service radio channel despite criticism
Reuters, September 4, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-media-bbc/hong-kong-scraps-24-hour-bbc-world-service-radio-channel-despite-criticism-idUSKCN1BF0EG

周永康狱中家书:没有民主何来法治 (Alex Chow’s letter to family from prison: no democracy, no rule of law)
Inmediahk, September 2, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170903-周永康狱中家书没有民主何来法治

HK independence banners fly at CUHK
Radio Television Hong Kong, September 4, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1352211-20170904.htm

Commentary (评论)

Our universities are a frontline in China's ideological wars
Australian Financial Review, August 30, 2017
http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/our-universities-are-a-frontline-in-chinas-ideological-wars-20170830-gy74br

Democracy and human rights are vital for the rule of law—and so is legality
South China Morning Post, September 4, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2109596/democracy-and-human-rights-are-vital-rule-law-and-so

The Hong Kong gov’t’s new, poisonous political culture: All criticism is politics, all critics are ill
Hong Kong Free Press, September 2, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/09/02/governments-new-poisonous-political-culture-criticism-politics-critics-ill/