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, October 15, 2014

Corruption (腐败)

”政绩工程”如何收场?--全国663个“形象工程”“政绩工程”被叫停 (China calls off 663 “vanity projects” nationwide)
People’s Daily, October 15, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1015/c1001-25840389.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Violent clashes between police and demonstrators erupt in Hong Kong
The New York Times, October 14, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/15/world/asia/hong-kong-protests.html

Related:
Hong Kong protests: Police to investigate "beating" video
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 15, 2014
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29625053

Hong Kong: Preserving Rights, Honoring Promises
香港:维护权利,履行承诺
Human Rights in China, October 15, 2014
EN:http://www.hrichina.org/en/hong-kong-preserving-rights-honoring-promises
CH:http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xiang-gang-wei-hu-quan-li-lu-xing-cheng-nuo

Hong Kong police drag activists away, clear tunnel
ABC News, October 15, 2014
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hong-kong-police-clear-protesters-tunnel-26175135

Related:
香港警方逮捕45名抗议者
Police arrest 45 protesters in Hong Kong
Financial Times, October 15, 2014
CH: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001058628
Video:http://video.ft.com/3839948931001/Police-arrest-45-protesters-in-Hong-Kong/World

Hong Kong authorities vow to probe alleged police beating at protest
CNN, October 15, 2014
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/15/world/asia/hong-kong-police-protest-video/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Related:
港警:2督察5初警围殴示威者 已成立严重投诉队 (Hong Kong police set up team to handle complaints of police beating of protester)
South China Morning Post, October 15, 2014
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk/40203/gang-jing-2du-cha-5chu-jing-wei-ou-shi-wei-zhe-yi-cheng-li-yan-zhong-tou-su-dui

Morale of junior police officers could not be lower: union leader
South China Morning Post, October 15, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1616508/morale-junior-police-officers-could-not-be-lower-union-leader

内地大学严防港生支援占领 (Mainland universities take strict precautions against Hong Kong students supporting Occupy Central)
Ming Pao, October 15, 2014
http://news1.mingpao.com/20141015/gag2.htm

港府正透过“中间人”冀重启与学联对话 (Hong Kong government tries to restart dialogue with HKFS through “middleman”)
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 14, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/10/141015_hongkong_government_protesters_dialogue

香港无线20余员工联署抗议内部审查 (20 TVB staff petition against self-censorship)
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 14, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/10/141015_hk_tvb_police

Political and Economic Reform (政治经济改革)

习近平称解决中国问题只能在中国大地上探寻道路方法 (Xin Jinping: Solutions to China’s problems can only be found in China)
Voice of America, October 14, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/sd-10142014111547.html

Poverty (贫穷)

中国官员说,中国贫困人口按照国际标准达两亿 (Chinese official admits China has 200 million in poverty by int’l standards)
Radio Free Asia, October 14, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/xql-10142014111521.html

Taiwan, 台湾

国台办:台湾方面不应对香港政改说三道四 (State Council Taiwan Affairs Office: Taiwan should not meddle in Hong Kong’s political reform)
Beijing News, October 15, 2014
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2014/10/15/337369.html

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Hong Kong’s pop culture of protest
The New York Times, October 15, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/15/opinion/hong-kongs-pop-culture-of-protest.html

Occupy Central barriers may be down but roads to progress are blocked
South China Morning Post, October 15, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1616511/barriers-down-roads-progress-blocked

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Corruption (腐败)

陕西一镇政府建5800平米豪华办公楼 仅43名干部 (Shaanxi county gov’t builds luxurious 5,800-square-meters office building for 43 cadres)
China News, October 11, 2014
http://news.163.com/14/1011/23/A8AILUCR00014JB6.html

Related:
郴州村干部3年挥霍公款150万 泡脚、泡澡约4.3万 (Hunan village cadre misused 1.5 million in public funds in 3 years, spent RMB 43,000 on spa treatments)
Voice of China Online, October 13, 2014
http://hunan.voc.com.cn/article/201410/201410130842251477.html

全国首次集中查处6484名“走读干部” (China investigates and punishes 6484 cadres nationwide who live in urban homes while posted in grassroots units)
People’s Daily, October 13, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1013/c1001-25818296.html

Cyber security (网络安全)

Anonymous group of hackers release data from Chinese government sites
South China Morning Post, October 12, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1615102/chinese-websites-hacked-anonymous-action-support-hong-kong

Related:
“匿名者”声称攻陷52个中国政府网站 (Hacker group “Anonymous” claims to have attacked 52 Chinese gov’t sites)
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 12, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/science/2014/10/141012_hongkong_occupy_anonymous

Environment (环境)

Concern mounts in China over Yangtze diversion project
Financial Times, October 14, 2014
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a39d9c7c-4fa2-11e4-a0a4-00144feab7de.html#axzz3G5RobMwC

Hong Kong (香港)

Ridicule proves an effective formula for Hong Kong protesters
The Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2014
http://online.wsj.com/articles/ridicule-proves-an-effective-formula-for-hong-kong-protesters-1413273989

Hong Kong police tear down barricades to clear way for cars
CNN, October 14, 2014
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/14/world/asia/china-hong-kong-protest/index.html

Related:
HK police use sledgehammers, chainsaws to clear protest barriers, open road
Reuters, October 13, 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/14/us-hongkong-china-idUSKCN0I202620141014

Scuffles as protest opponents try to tear down Hong Kong barricades
CNN, October 13, 2014
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/12/world/asia/china-hong-kong-protest/

香港占中:多处地方继续发生对峙场面 (Occupy Central: confrontation continues in multiple locations)
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 13, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/10/141013_hk_occupy_latest

中国外交部回应德媒体在华“雇员”被捕:依法依规 (Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: capture of German paper employee legal and lawful)
People’s Daily, October 14, 2014
http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1014/c1001-25827773.html

Anti-Occupy protesters defy court order, block Apple Daily delivery
South China Morning Post, October 14, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1616027/anti-occupy-protesters-defy-court-order-block-apple-daily-delivery

Hong Kong's leader says protests will not sway China
British Broadcasting Corporation, October 12, 2014
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29587490

China police hold activists over “Hong Kong interview”
The Economic Times, October 12, 2014
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-police-hold-activists-over-hong-kong-interview/articleshow/44797657.cms

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

Chinese scholar who helped in an escape is detained for “picking quarrels”
中国维权学者郭玉闪周四被拘
The New York Times, October 12, 2014
http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20141013/c13dissident/dual/

Information Control (信息控制)

China bans books by pro-Hong Kong protest author
ABC News, October 14, 2014
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-bans-books-pro-hong-kong-protest-author-26175516

Book ban rumors boost authors in China
The Wall Street Journal, October 13, 2014
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/10/13/rumors-of-book-ban-boosts-authors-in-china/

中国封杀多名中港台知名人士著作 (China bans books by some mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese authors known to be critical of China)
Voice of America, October 13, 2014
http://www.voachinese.com/content/hk-book-20141012/2481003.html

Poverty (贫穷)

中国贫困人口超过8200万人 将继续向贫困宣战 (China continues to declare war on poverty as its poor population exceeds 82 million)
Eastday, October 14, 2014
http://news.eastday.com/c/20141014/u1a8390430.html

Rule of Law (法治)

全国法院3千名发言人电话公布 随机拨打6成接听 (China discloses phone numbers of 3,000 court spokespersons nationwide, 60% of calls were answered in a random sampling)
China News, October 13, 2014
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2014/10-13/6669842.shtml

Rural Issues (农村)

Once a symbol of power, farming now an economic drag in China
The New York Times, October 12, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/13/world/asia/once-a-symbol-of-power-farming-now-an-economic-drag-in-china.html

XUAR (新疆维吾尔自治区)

China sentences 12 to death over deadly Xinjiang attack
The Wall Street Journal, October 13, 2014
http://online.wsj.com/articles/china-sentences-12-to-death-over-deadly-xinjiang-attack-1413208917

Related:
新疆莎车暴恐案宣判 12人死刑24人死缓或无期 (China sentences 12 to death and 24 to death with reprieve or life imprisonment over Xinjiang Shache county riot)
Eastday, October 14, 2014
http://news.eastday.com/c/20141014/u1a8389133.html

Opinion (观点)

China’s Right to Govern Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s Pan Democrats Must Accept China’s Constitutional Powers
The New York Times, October 14, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/14/opinion/hong-kongs-pan-democrats-must-accept-chinas-constitutional-powers.html

Young people of Taiwan and Hong Kong refusing to accept the unification of “Greater China”
The Canberra Times, October 11, 2014
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/young-people-of-taiwan-and-hong-kong-refusing-to-accept-the-unification-of-greater-china-20141010-1147tq.html

To Hong Kong, with Love and Squalor
The New Yorker, October 11, 2014
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/mainland-china-hong-kong-love-squalor

Beijing and Hong Kong protesters poles apart on lessons to be draw
Financial Times, October 12, 2014
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1098f12a-50a0-11e4-b73e-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=intl#axzz3G2W6xrMd

Friday, October 10, 2014

Cyber security (网络安全)

中联办网站两遭恶意攻击 已报警 (Cyber-attack takes down official website of Central Government liaison office in HK)
South China Morning Post, October 10, 2014
http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk/39810/zhong-lian-ban-wang-zhan-liang-zao-e-yi-gong-ji-yi-bao-jing

Environment (环境)

Are China's dams causing quakes?
Bloomberg, October 9, 2014
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-10-09/are-china-s-dams-causing-quakes

Heavy smog engulfs parts of northern China
British Broadcasting Company, October 10, 2014
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29564203

贵州化工厂污染再有村民命危两厂领导“十一”安检昏倒车间 (More villagers in critical condition from heavy pollution by Guizhou factory, 2 factory supervisors faint during routine safety exam)
Radio Free Asia, October 10, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/ql1-10102014100540.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Taiwan urges China to let Hong Kong “go democratic”
The Guardian, October 10, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/10/taiwan-ma-ying-jeou-china-hong-kong-democratic-first

Lawmakers urge Obama to speak up for Hong Kong protesters
The Hill, October 9, 2014
http://thehill.com/policy/international/220293-lawmakers-urge-obama-to-speak-up-for-hong-kong-protesters

See the full text of the letter:
http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-wicker-rubio-lead-bipartisan-call-urging-president-to-speak-out-on-hong-kong-

The spoiled brats of democracy: Hong Kong’s students take their place in a long and noble Chinese line
The Economist, October 11, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21623775-hong-kongs-students-take-their-place-long-and-noble-chinese-line-spoiled-brats

The waiting game: Officials hope to wear protesters down, but time may be on the side of the students
The Economist, October 11, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21623768-officials-hope-wear-protesters-down-time-may-be-side-students-waiting

The thugs of mainland China
The New Yorker, October 8, 2014
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/thugs-mainland-china-hong-kong-protests

Beijing needs to cut Hong Kong some slack
Financial Times, October 9, 2014
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f5a046bc-4f9f-11e4-908e-00144feab7de.html#axzz3Fkt0kPmj

Read the anti-Hong Kong rant that is going viral in China
Foreign Policy, October 6, 2014
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/10/06/read_the_anti_hong_kong_rant_that_s_going_viral_in_china

An end to Hong Kong’s unrest is now more distant than ever
Quartz, October 10, 2014
http://qz.com/278586/an-end-to-hong-kongs-unrest-is-now-more-distant-than-ever/

Amateur songwriters give Occupy movement a soundtrack on YouTube
South China Morning Post, October 9, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1612380/amateur-songwriters-give-occupy-movement-soundtrack-youtube

How apps speed up — but often muddle — Hong Kong protesters’ messages
Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2014
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/10/10/how-apps-speed-up-but-often-muddle-hong-kong-protesters-messages/

Emotional toll on police handling Occupy protests, psychologists say
South China Morning Post, October 10, 2014
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1613203/emotional-toll-police-handling-occupy-protests-psychologists-say