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, May 21, 2018

Access to Justice (司法公正)

A hearing with Chinese characteristics: How the Beijing Lawyers’ Association helps persecute human rights lawyers
China Change, May 21, 2018
https://chinachange.org/2018/05/21/a-hearing-with-chinese-characteristics-how-the-beijing-lawyers-association-helps-persecute-human-rights-lawyers

接纳人权律师 广西百举鸣律所遭解散 (Authorities dissolve Guangxi Baijuming Law Firm for hiring human rights lawyers)
Radio Free Asia, May 21, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-05212018101058.html

“妄议”人大修宪 中国教授遭严惩 (University professor faces harsh penalty for “mis-explaining” constitutional amendments by NPC)
Deutsche Welle, May 21, 2018
http://p.dw.com/p/2y3Fb

中国新法赋英烈红色经典“金钟罩” (New Chinese law gives martyrs and red classics a “golden sheath”)
Deutsche Welle, May 20, 2018
http://p.dw.com/p/2xvif

Access to Information (信息公开)

Off the charts: Why Chinese publishers don’t want maps in their books
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2146876/charts-why-chinese-publishers-dont-want-maps-their-books

Scientists in Hong Kong will not bend to Beijing just because they get state funding, local scholars say
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2146947/hong-kong-scientists-will-not-bend-central-government-just

Related:

What Hong Kong scientists’ questions about their new access to mainland China funding reveal
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2146941/what-hong-kong-scientists-questions-about-their-new-access

Beijing police “edited” video to mislead public over Hong Kong reporter’s arrest, journalist association says
South China Morning Post, May 19, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2146890/beijing-police-edited-video-mislead-public-over-hong-kong

Related:

Beijing police claim Hong Kong journalist they dragged away resisted their authority and behaved “inappropriately”
South China Morning Post, May 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2146857/beijing-police-claim-hong-kong-journalist-they-dragged-away

港区全国人大为主子出头反称香港记者涉阻碍公安执法 (Hong Kong NPC delegate accuses journalist of obstructing public security's law enforcement)
Radio France Internationale, May 21, 2018
http://cn.rfi.fr/港澳台/20180521-港区全国人大为主子出头反称香港记者涉阻碍公安执法

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

No smooth sailing for comments on China-U.S. trade
China Media Project, May 20, 2018
http://chinamediaproject.org/2018/05/20/no-smooth-sailing-for-comments-on-china-us-trade

Hong Kong June 4 activists call for end to “one-party dictatorship” in China, using kites to get message out
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2146981/hong-kong-june-4-activists-call-end-one-party-dictatorship

流亡作家紧急呼吁关注高度危险中刘霞 (Exiled writer in Germany urgently calls attention to Liu Xia at high risk)
Voice of America, May 18, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/voanews-20180518-china-liu-xia/4399827.html

Popular “rage comics” brand gagged for making fun of martyrs
Sixth Tone, May 18, 2018
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002298/popular-rage-comics-brand-gagged-for-making-fun-of-martyrs

流亡藏人足球队赴英参赛 获达赖喇嘛接见 (Tibet-in-exile soccer team received by Dalai Lama before match in U.K.)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/dz-05182018094628.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China considers ending birth limits as soon as this year
Bloomberg, May 21, 2018
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-21/china-said-to-consider-ending-birth-limits-as-soon-as-this-year

China introduces measures to motivate officials
Sina, May 21, 2018
http://english.sina.com/china/p/2018-05-21/detail-ihaturft5999241.shtml

青岛上合峰会维稳升级 多人被传唤约谈 (In advance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Qingdao, government escalates “stability maintenance” and summons citizens for “interviews”)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-05182018095415.html

China calls on all mosques to raise national flag
Channel News Asia, May 21, 2018
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/china-calls-on-all-mosques-to-raise-national-flag-10254792

Related:

除了国旗 还有什么要进清真寺? (Besides the Chinese flag, what else is entering mosques?)
Deutsche Welle, May 21, 2018
http://p.dw.com/p/2y4Q1

江天勇转监记忆衰退 家属表忧虑 (Jiang Tianyong transfers prisons, memory loss concerns family)
Radio Free Asia, May 21, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/gf2-05212018100819.html

天安门母亲:29年来政府始终无视我们的存在 (Tiananmen Mothers: The government has been ignoring our existence for 29 years)
Radio France Internationale, May 20, 2018
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20180520-天安门母亲29年来政府始终无视我们的存在

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

High school students in eastern China to get facial monitoring in class
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2018
EN: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/high-school-students-in-eastern-china-to-get-facial-monitoring-in-class-05182018113315.html
CH: https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql2-05182018095319.html

微信新规:不得分享视频 违者永久封号 (WeChat’s new rules: Users may not link to external videos in chat groups)
Radio Free Asia, May 21, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/ql2-05212018101620.html

社会信用机制发威 逾千万人次被限购机票 (Social credit system booms: Over 10 million people restricted in purchasing train and plane tickets)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/hc-05182018110948.html

中國成fb第二大廣告市場 (China becomes Facebook’s 2nd largest ad market)
Mingpao, May 19, 2018
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20180520/s00013/1526753151348

Hong Kong (香港)

Mocking “confession” posted at Hong Kong Baptist University in wake of compulsory Mandarin test row
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2147158/mocking-confession-posted-hong-kong-baptist-university-wake

Related:

Hong Kong Baptist University students lose appeal against punishment for role in rowdy Mandarin protests
South China Morning Post, May 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2146834/hong-kong-baptist-university-students-lose-appeal-against

Mitigation hearing begins for Mong Kok rioter Edward Leung, who veteran Hong Kong politician describes as one of his generation’s “finest”
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-law-and-crime/article/2147087/mitigation-hearing-begins-mong-kok-rioter

Related:

Hong Kong independence activist Edward Leung found guilty of rioting but cleared of incitement over Mong Kok unrest
South China Morning Post, May 18, 2018
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-law-and-crime/article/2146806/hong-kong-pro-independence-activist-edward

六四前“结束一党专政”风波在香港发酵 (Political storm brews over "abolishing one-party rule" protest on eve of June 4)
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-05182018095619.html

Commentary (评论)

China has a vast influence machine, and you don’t even know it
The New York Times, May 21, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/opinion/china-overseas-intelligence-yang.html