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.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Lawyers Told They Cannot Claim Xie Jiao Members Are Innocent
Bitter Winter, January 15, 2020

Access to Information (信息公开)

Some people in China help the party police the internet
The Economist, January 18, 2020

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

New Hong Kong protester ‘Pillar of Shame’ sculpture to be erected outside Danish Parliament
Hong Kong Free Press, January 17, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Coronavirus: second death in China after Sars-like outbreak
The Guardian, January 17, 2020

Related:
“武汉肺炎”蔓延 舆论质疑政府隐瞒 (Public questions whether authorities withheld information as Wuhan pneumonia spreads to other countries)
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2020

基督教迫害监察组织报告称中国迫害情况加剧 (Report from watchdog on religious oppression says persecution in China is worsening)
Voice of America, January 17, 2020

Report on alleged Chinese corruption in Maldives due by June: minister
Reuters, January 17, 2020

China President Xi’s Visit to Myanmar Raises Economic Hopes, Political Concerns
Radio Free Asia, January 16, 2020

Police Hunt for and Persecute Buyers of Religious Books
Bitter Winter, January 17, 2020

China Renews Its ‘Belt and Road’ Push for Global Sway
The New York Times, January 15, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Huawei exec set to fight Canada court battle against US extradition
Channel News Asia, January 17, 2020

Shanghai introduces facial recognition drug collection terminals to combat abuse by patients and pharmacists
South China Morning Post, January 17, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong student who helped found volunteer protest medic group arrested in China, classmates say
Hong Kong Free Press, January 17, 2020

Related:
「國難忠醫」負責人被公安帶走 文匯引校方:涉嫖娼被捕且供認不諱 (Founder of volunteer medic group helping Hong Kong's protesters detained in Guangzhou, university says he is arrested on prostitution charges)
Stand News, January 16, 2020

Hong Kong police watchdog postpones report on unrest following legal challenge
Hong Kong Free Press, January 17, 2020

Related:
監警會剎停發表批評警方報告 張達明:「等埋司法覆核」理由奇怪 料非法律原因 ("Waiting for judicial review" is strange reason to postpone release of IPCC investigative report, says legal expert)
Stand News, January 17, 2020

Ted Hui files court challenge on tear gas chemicals
The Standard, January 17, 2020

Related:
清潔工硬食催淚彈 不准離開崗位 「眼都矇曬」(Government cleaners forced to brace for tear gas without protective equipment, as lack of guidelines and fear of salary deductions pressure them to stay on duty)
Inmediahk.net, January 16, 2020

鄧炳強:從誤導警員等方向調查指控警署內遭強姦案件 (Police chief says case of alleged rape in police station is being investigated on grounds of "misleading police officers" and perjury)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 16, 2020

‘Police apologise?’ No, Hong Kong rioters should say sorry for chaos they brought to the city, force chief Chris Tang says
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2020

Related:
Hong Kong district councillors grill police chief Chris Tang
Hong Kong Free Press, January 26, 2020

動議譴責警暴 鄧炳強即走 民政專員同離席:政府不認同 (Police commissioner and government staff walk out mid-meeting when District Councillors raise motion to condemn police violence)
Inmediahk.net, January 16, 2020

政府不認同中西區區議會譴責鄧炳強動議 (Government "disagrees" with district council motion to condemn police violence)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 16, 2020

Transitional housing for Hong Kong’s poor not just a job for charities and developers, human rights groups says, urging more government involvement
South China Morning Post, January 16, 2020

Commentary (评论)

在海外,抖音與微信為何成為「中國威脅論」的延伸? (How did Douyin and Weixin become the extension of China's threat overseas)
The Initium, January 17, 2020

將香港議題推進美國政治:反修例運動的華府遊說者 (Bringing Hong Kong into American politics: The lobbyists for the anti-extradition movement in Washington D.C.)
The Initium, January 17, 2020

【英國專訪之一】與家人斷絕關係 鄭文傑:收母親不尋常短訊電話 特別提醒小心女友安危 (Interview with Simon Cheng (Part 1): A phone call from his mother prompted him to cut ties with family to keep them safe)
Citizen News, January 17, 2020

【英國專訪之二】內地嚴刑逼供 鄭文傑四肢被鎖木板 被罵「國家的敵人」(Interview with Simon Cheng (Part 2): Cheng reveals details of his torture: tiger chair, body tied on cross, officials revealed there are other Hong Kongers caught)
Citizen News, January 17, 2020