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, January 22, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

广东维权人士李碧云被判刑四年 (Rights defender in Guangzhou, Li Biyun, sentenced to four years imprisonment)
Radio Free Asia, January 21, 2020

孟宏伟被判刑 中国式“反腐”越演越烈? (Is Meng Hongwei's sentencing a sign that Chinese style "anti-corruption" is growing uglier?)
Radio Free Asia, January 21, 2020

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

罗胜春访白宫:让全世界知道中国当局迫害 (Wife of rights lawyer detained since December visits White House: "We must let the world know about the repression from Chinese authorities")
Radio Free Asia, January 21, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Coronavirus: China unveils measures to rein in spread of 'mutating' disease
The Guardian, January 22, 2020

Related:
How political tensions between Taiwan and mainland China could hamper efforts to fight Wuhan virus
South China Morning Post, January 21, 2020

First case of SARS-like virus in Hong Kong – sources
Hong Kong Free Press, January 22, 2020

Sweden summons Chinese ambassador over criticism of country and media
Agence France-Presse, January 22, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

林鄭:習近平保證不會收緊對港管治 (Xi Jinping promised not to tighten control on Hong Kong because of protests, says Carrie Lam)
Ming Pao, January 22, 2020

Related:
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hails President Xi Jinping’s support for city as she rejects suggestions Beijing is exploiting the anti-government protests
South China Morning Post, January 22, 2020

旺角初一衝突四周年 警禁「香港本土起義」辦「勿忘魚蛋」集會 (Police ban all promotion, organization, and attendance of rally on Chinese New Year in remembrance of "Fishball Revolution" in 2016)
Stand News, January 22, 2020

被控煽惑非法集結及拒服從警命令 劉頴匡:據《公安條例》申集會之路將盡 ("The path of lawful assemblies under Public Order Ordinance is reaching its end," says Ventus Lau, organizer of lawful rally on Sunday now charged with inciting unlawful assembly)
Inmediahk.net, January 21, 2020

Hong Kong protests: did police use Israel’s Cellebrite hacking tech to crack protesters’ smartphones?
South China Morning Post, January 22, 2020

Hong Kong protests: hundreds gather at peaceful rallies to mark Yuen Long MTR station attack six months on
South China Morning Post, January 21, 2020

Related:
Police officers ‘received verbal warnings’ for holding reporters’ identity cards in front of live-streaming cameras during Hong Kong protests
South China Morning Post, January 22, 2020

香港大律師公會就成立獨立調查委員會的意見書 (Full text: Hong Kong Bar Association's Paper on the Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the Social Unrest in Hong Kong)
Inmediahk.net, January 21, 2020

大埔區議會通過建議保留連儂牆 政府部門書面稱不適合 (Tai Po District Council passes motion to keep iconic Lennon Tunnel; authorities skip meeting, deliver written dissent instead)
Radio Television Hong Kong, January 21, 2020

Commentary (评论)

制度性謊言下的武漢肺炎(文:呂秉權) (A Wuhan pneumonia outbreak under China's systemic lies)
Ming Pao, January 22, 2020

Beijing’s new man in Hong Kong must succeed where others have failed in explaining the city to his Communist Party bosses
South China Morning Post, January 22, 2020