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, April 28, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

中国“吊照门”十年 维权律师生存艰难 (China’s rights lawyers face desperate times after ten years of “license stripping”)
Radio Free Asia, April 28, 2020

病情恶化恐无缘再见儿子 黄琦母亲撰写“最后告白” (Huang Qi's mother, in deteriorating condition, writes “final statement”; fears no chance to say goodbye to imprisoned son)
Radio Free Asia, April 28, 2020

Access to Information (公众知情权)

Lawmakers introduce legislation to combat global censorship, boost internet freedom
The Hill, April 27, 2020

武汉称新冠肺炎住院患者清零 有居民怀疑为政治任务而作假 (Wuhan declares zero COVID-19 cases in hospitals, residents suspect false claim for political purpose)
Voice of America, April 28, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Federal Government calls Chinese ambassador about comments on trade boycott over coronavirus inquiry
Australian Broadcasting Company, April 28, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Top lawyer asks government if Beijing could control Hong Kong’s prosecutors and judiciary, after justice chief says liaison office has supervisory powers
South China Morning Post, April 28, 2020

Decision not to reappoint opposition legislator Dennis Kwok to Hong Kong’s competition watchdog was based on merit, city leader Carrie Lam says
South China Morning Post, April 28, 2020

Hong Kong protests: more than 100 people gather at luxury mall in Central to stage singalong violating social-distancing laws amid coronavirus
South China Morning Post, April 28, 2020

聯合國去信港府關注反恐法例、煽動罪定義過闊 憂侵犯人權 (UN Special Rapporteurs voice concern over counterterrorism policy in Hong Kong regarding overbroad definition of sedition, human rights violations)
The Stand News, April 28, 2020

Related:
UN Special Rapporteurs’ Joint Communication to China
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, April 23, 2020

逾百區議員發聯合聲明 籲泛民議員內會勿退讓 (Joint statement by more than 100 district councilors urging pan-dem not to back down on LegCo House Committee)
HK01, April 28, 2020

Commentary (评论)

A decade after Chinese human rights lawyers Tang Jitian and Liu Wei were disbarred, much has changed – for the worse
South China Morning Post, April 28, 2020