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 30, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China's legislature discusses Constitution revision
Xinhua News Agency, January 30, 2018
http://english.sina.com/china/p/2018-01-30/detail-ifyqzcxi1667543.shtml

李明哲妻子前往大陸探監 遭拒絕登機 (Wife of Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che stopped by mainland airliner from going to visit husband in Hunan prison)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 30, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1378105-20180130.htm

Related:
Taiwan activist Li Ming-che's wife stopped from flying to China to visit husband: rights groups
Reuters, January 30, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-taiwan/taiwan-activist-li-ming-ches-wife-stopped-from-flying-to-china-to-visit-husband-rights-groups-idUSKBN1FJ0YF

澳門擬修法 涉「國家安全」案件限中國籍法官審理 外籍法官不得處理 (Macau plans to revise law to stop foreign judges from taking on “national security” cases and hand them to Chinese peers)
Stand News, January 30, 2018
http://bit.ly/2Gvsf48

福建“赤脚律师”纪斯尊据报狱中病危 (Ji Sizun, rights lawyer based in Fujian, critically ill in prison, says legal counsel)
Radio Free Asia, January 29, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf1-01292018103822.html

2月1日起一批新规将施行:退休后或可多领一份收入 (Revised Religious Affairs Regulations to strengthen “standards” for religious information services online)
People.com.cn, January 26, 2018
http://legal.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0126/c42510-29787693.html

最高检召开党组会学习贯彻习近平关于政法工作重要指示 (China’s Chief Prosecutor urges procuratorates at all levels to uphold CPC’s absolute leadership in their work)
Supreme People’s Procuratorate, January 26, 2018
http://www.spp.gov.cn/zdgz/201801/t20180126_209578.shtml

Access to Information (信息公开)

工信部:中国VPN政策不影响用户信息安全,通信自由受保护 (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology claims China’s VPN policy doesn’t affect information safety of users and protects their freedom to communicate)
The Paper, January 30, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1975382

北京市网信办依法约谈新浪微博 热搜榜、热门话题榜等版块暂时下线整改 (Beijing Internet Information Office summons Sina Weibo for talk, suspends “Hot Topic Search List,” “Hot Topic List,” and other functions for “rectification”)
Cyberspace Administration of China, January 27, 2018
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2018-01/27/c_1122326857.htm

Related:
China tightens screws on social media, taking aim at rap, crude cartoons, dirty jokes and celebrity gossip
Agence France-Presse, January 29, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/29/china-tightens-screws-social-media-taking-aim-rap-crude-cartoons-dirty-jokes-celebrity-gossip/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

中国千余民师齐聚北京维权 冀获全国两会关注 (Over 1,000 teachers from across China gather in Beijing demanding social security contributions and medical care)
Radio Free Asia, January 29, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-01292018101853.html

内蒙古多旗牧民代表自治区政府维权 (Inner Mongolia herdsmen representatives petition for grassland rights at local government)
Radio Free Asia, January 29, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql2-01292018100600.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Deaths from workplace accidents in China fall 12pc in 2017 to 38,000
Reuters, January 30, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2131147/deaths-workplace-accidents-china-fall-12pc-2017-38000

郑州“抽梯”事件当事人:“跟城管说了好多遍不要拿走” (Billboard installation worker falls to his death in descent attempt after urban management officials removed his ladder)
The Beijing News, January 29, 2018
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/CFYbvQQPWbxufsZFQ1iLeg

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

公安部已成立全国公安大数据工作领导小组 (Ministry of Public Security forms Leading Group on National Public Security Big Data Work in aimed at “major advance toward informatizing public security by 2020”)
China Youth Daily, January 26, 2018
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1968827

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

Xinjiang crackdown must go on to subdue “terror risks”, China says
Reuters, January 29, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2131063/xinjiang-crackdown-must-go-subdue-terror-risks-china

China rejects “preposterous” African Union headquarters spying report
Deutsche Welle, January 29, 2018
http://www.dw.com/en/china-rejects-preposterous-african-union-headquarters-spying-report/a-42356816

China stakes its claim to the Arctic
The Diplomat, January 29, 2018
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/china-stakes-its-claim-to-the-arctic/

Hong Kong (香港)

Banning Agnes Chow from by-election “risks Hong Kong’s int’l reputation as a free and open society”, EU says
Hong Kong Free Press, January 30, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/30/banning-agnes-chow-election-risks-hong-kongs-intl-reputation-free-open-society-eu-says/

Related:
Justice Sec. Teresa Cheng gave legal advice to gov’t over banning candidates from legislative by-election
Hong Kong Free Press, January 29, 2018
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/29/justice-sec-teresa-cheng-gave-legal-advice-govt-banning-candidates-legislative-election/

Hong Kong justice chief Teresa Cheng survives two no-confidence motions amid criticism from lawmakers
South China Morning Post, January 30, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2131105/hong-kong-justice-chief-teresa-cheng-survives-two-no

Related:
港大民研指林鄭月娥評分及民望淨值創上任來新低 (HKU survey finds Carrie Lam’s rating hits new low)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 30, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1378091-20180130.htm

劉子頎及陳樂行向浸大語文中心教職員道歉 (Baptist University student activists apologize to staff at language center)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 30, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1378099-20180130.htm

Hong Kong’s poor breathing in more bad air than the wealthy, study finds
South China Morning Post, January 30, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2131092/hong-kongs-poor-breathing-more-bad-air-wealthy

Chris Patten urges PM to raise Hong Kong plight on China visit
The Guardian, January 29, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/29/lord-patten-calls-on-theresa-may-to-challenge-china-over-hong-kong-rights

Related:
外交部重申堅決反對外國政府或個人干預香港事務 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs slams foreign interference of Hong Kong affairs by any governments or individuals)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 30, 2018
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1378120-20180130.htm

Commentary (评论)

強權時代築高牆 (The high wall built between Hongkongers in the era of autocracy)
Inmediahk, January 30, 2018
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1054882

社评:“锐实力”,披着学术外衣的骂人话 (“Sharp Power”, foul language in disguise of academic research)
Global Times, January 29, 2018
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2018-01/11561545.html