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, May 04, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

因报道疫情而身陷囹圄的公民记者张展荣获比利时自由大学言论自由奖 (Zhang Zhan, imprisoned citizen journalist who covered coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, is awarded Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression by Free University of Brussels-VUB)
Radio France Internationale, May 4, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

EU efforts to ratify China investment deal on ice after sanctions
Agence France-Presse, May 4, 2021

EU trade chief says efforts to ratify China deal ‘suspended’
Politico, May 4, 2021

Related:
Intervention by Sharon Hom at Exchange of Views on “Comprehensive Agreement on Investment” (CAI) between EU and China Convened by the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights
Human Rights in China, February 25, 2021

“一带一路”背后中国劳工的血泪:强迫劳动 惨死他乡 (Chinese workers' ordeal behind the Belt and Road Initiative: Forced labor, miserable death away from home)
Radio Free Asia, May 3, 2021

中美关系:布林肯谴责中国对外好斗、对内压制 警告军事冲突违背美中利益 (U.S. Sec’y of State Blinken condemns China for combative actions abroad, increased suppression at home; warns that military conflict is against U.S.-China interests)
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 3, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese smart TVs are snooping on their owners
Protocol, May 3, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Two more teachers banned from Hong Kong schools over links to ‘social turmoil’
Hong Kong Free Press, May 4, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong protests: students say lifetime ban on teacher over ‘biased’ materials unfair and disproportionate
South China Morning Post, May 3, 2021

Largest protest group in Hong Kong rejects police request for records and funding details in face of probe
Hong Kong Free Press, May 4, 2021

Related:
7.1遊行 8名民主派被控煽惑集結等罪 押後至7月再訊(Eight pro-democracy figures charged over an unauthorized anti-national security law protest in 2020)
inmedia.hk, May 4, 2021

New Data Show Hong Kong’s National Security Arrests Follow a Pattern
ChinaFile, May 4, 2021

Embattled Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK is still free to criticise government, Lam says, provided it is ‘objective, fair’
South China Morning Post, May 4, 2021

Related:
港台節目製作人員工會回應管理層刪片聲明:昔日節目是公共資源 是港人共同財產(RTHK Programme Staff Union's statement on management's decision to delete clips from YouTube & Facebook: Previous programmes are public resources and Hong Kong people's shared assets)
RTHK Programme Staff Union, May 3, 2021

【47人案】梁晃維辭任中西區區議員(Fergus Leung Fong-wai, one of the 47 pro-democracy figures arrested, resigns from Central and Western district councilor post)
Stand News, May 4, 2021

理大衝突涉助示威者離開 21人被控其中3人缺席提訊(21 charged over assisting protestors to leave at PolyU siege in 2019)
Radio Television Hong Kong, May 4, 2021

Beijing to oversee election body
The Standard, May 4, 2021

Legal experts launch advice website for Hongkongers amid growing number of arrests and charges
Hong Kong Free Press, May 4, 2021

Commentary (评论)

Why Martin Lee’s Arrest Is Such a Worrying Sign
The Diplomat, May 3, 2021