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, November 15, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Outcry as China executes symbol of injustice Jia Jinglong
The Guardian, November 15, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/15/outcry-as-china-executes-symbol-of-injustice-jia-jinglong

Related:
12 Chinese legal professionals’ letter of appeal for the review of Jia Jinglong’s death penalty
China Change, November 14, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/11/14/12-chinese-legal-professionals-letter-of-appeal-for-the-review-of-jia-jinglongs-death-penalty/

Access to Information (信息公开)

Online freedom hit by pressure on social media, apps; China worst offender
Agence France-Presse, November 15, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/15/online-freedom-hit-pressure-social-media-apps-china-worst-offender/

New China data shows mixed economic picture
The Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2016
http://www.wsj.com/articles/china-manufacturing-index-highest-in-over-two-years-1477964363

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Throwing labor activists in jail won’t solve China’s structural problems
Quartz, November 14, 2016
http://qz.com/827623/throwing-labor-activists-like-meng-han-in-jail-wont-solve-chinas-structural-problems/

Police in Shanghai, Beijing detain more independent election candidates
Radio Free Asia, November 14, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/election-detentions-11142016160141.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese official suspended over petitioner’s death after he’s handcuffed and beaten in 81-hour ordeal
South China Morning Post, November 15, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2046106/chinese-official-suspended-over-petitioners-death-after-hes

Hundreds of families relocated in eastern China told their homes face demolition months after moving in
South China Morning Post, November 15, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2046090/hundreds-families-relocated-eastern-china-told-their-homes-face

Human rights groups protest over Interpol president’s appointment
Financial Times, November 10, 2016
https://www.ft.com/content/3da20eba-a72c-11e6-8b69-02899e8bd9d1

Trump and China: fears that deal-making will consign human rights to political “roadkill”
The Guardian, November 15, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/15/trump-and-china-fears-deal-making-consign-human-rights-to-political-roadkill

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Booming e-businesses amid tight censorship ... can China have it both ways with the Internet?
South China Morning Post, November 15, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2046121/booming-e-businesses-amid-tight-censorship-can-china

Hong Kong (香港)

Breaking: Localist lawmakers face ejection from Hong Kong legislature as gov’t wins legal challenge
Hong Kong Free Press, November 15, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/15/breaking-localist-lawmakers-face-ejection-from-hong-kong-legislature-as-govt-wins-legal-challenge/

Related:
【短片:誓詞風波】高院裁定政府勝訴 梁游喪失議員資格 ([Video: Oath controversy] The High Court rules that government wins, Leung and Yau barred from legislature)
Ming Pao, November 15, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161115/s00001/1479167639802

【梁游敗訴】法官:釋法與否結果都一樣 ([Leung and Yau lost] Judge: Same result with or without NPC interpretation of law)
Ming Pao, November 15, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161115/s00001/1479196740671

HKFP Lens: “Punish those who insult China”—Pro-Beijing groups rally against localist lawmakers
Hong Kong Free Press, November 14, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/14/hkfp-lens-punish-those-who-insult-china-pro-beijing-groups-rally-against-localist-lawmakers/

香港议员批评北京当局借人大释法加剧乱港 (Hong Kong legislator criticizes Beijing for using NPC interpretation of the Basic Law to intensify disputes in Hong Kong)
Radio Free Asia, November 14, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-11142016112823.html

The people of Hong Kong vs. The People’s Republic of China
Foreign Policy, November 11, 2016
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/11/11/the-people-of-hong-kong-vs-the-peoples-republic-of-china/

Commentary (评论)

Beijing’s ruling amounts to a purge of dissident voices from Hong Kong’s legislature
Hong Kong Free Press, November 14, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/14/beijings-ruling-amounts-to-a-purge-of-dissident-voices-from-hong-kongs-legislature/

Interpol appointment highlights abuses
The Guardian, November 14, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/14/interpol-appointment-highlights-abuses

【人大釋法】評釋法風波(一至四)(文:劉進圖) (Former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau on the controversy of NPC’s interpretation of the Basic Law I-IV)
Ming Pao, November 11-15, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161111/s00022/1478823611415
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161112/s00022/1478909528893
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161114/s00022/1479085011636
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161115/s00022/1479173732003

Monday, November 14, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

Cash-strapped Beijing Times to stop publishing at end of year
South China Morning Post, November 14, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2045613/cash-strapped-beijing-times-stop-publishing-end-year

Interview: Prize-winning Chinese citizen journalism website still going strong despite suppression
Hong Kong Free Press, November 12, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/12/interview-prize-winning-chinese-citizen-journalism-website-still-going-strong-despite-suppression/

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China also is going to the polls. But you’d barely know it.
The Washington Post, November 11, 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-is-also-going-to-the-polls-but-youd-barely-know-it/2016/11/10/a7ad8666-a049-11e6-8864-6f892cad0865_story.html

中国民间发起联署要求释放肖育辉 (Chinese civilians organize joint petition demanding release of Xiao Yuhui)
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf1-11132016084745.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Former top graft-buster gets suspended death sentence for taking bribes
South China Morning Post, November 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2045197/former-top-graft-buster-gets-suspended-death-sentence-taking-bribes

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China is the obstacle to Google’s plan to end Internet censorship
Hong Kong Free Press, November 13, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/13/china-obstacle-googles-plan-end-internet-censorship/

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong politician calls pro-independence activists “cancer cells” at rally of thousands
The Guardian, November 14, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/14/hong-kong-politician-calls-pro-independence-activists-cancer-cells-rally-thousands-china

Related:
Protesters claim they were paid to attend pro-Beijing rally in support of China’s ruling on oath row
Hong Kong Free Press, November 14, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/14/protesters-claim-they-were-paid-to-attend-pro-beijing-rally-in-support-of-chinas-ruling-on-oath-row/

反港獨撐釋法萬人集會 有參加者不知釋法內容稱「要睇返報紙」 (Anti-Hong Kong independence and pro-NPC interpretation rally—some participants ignorant of the interpretation content, saying they have to “check that again from newspapers”)
Ming Pao, November 14, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161113/s00001/1479031461594

China issues unity warning amid fears of political “purge” in Hong Kong
Radio Free Asia, November 11, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-xi-11112016140936.html

Hong Kong writers relaunch literary group in face of “unprecedented” threat to free speech
South China Morning Post, November 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2045576/hong-kong-writers-relaunch-literary-group-face

【毛孟靜退公民黨】以香港本土身分留在議會 毛指與黨理念不同 續與民主派合作 ([Claudia Mo quits Civic Party] Continuing to serve the legislature as an independent democrat with the group Hong Kong First, Claudia Mo resigns from Civic Party due to ideological differences)
Ming Pao, November 14, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161114/s00001/1479107115580

【誓詞風波】黨報:港生須學中國歷史 狹義排外令港走上絕途 ([Oath-taking row] State media: Hong Kong students must learn Chinese history, xenophobia in narrow sense will bring Hong Kong to a dead end)
Ming Pao, November 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161112/s00001/1478908322543

Commentary (评论)

How will Donald Trump’s victory impact China and U.S.-China relations?
ChinaFile, November 11, 2016
http://www.chinafile.com/sinica-podcast/how-will-donald-trumps-victory-impact-china-and-us-china-relations

Trump’s America and Hong Kong’s oath taking crisis: How they are linked
South China Morning Post, November 13, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2044871/trumps-america-and-hong-kongs-oath-taking-crisis-how-they-are

Beijing tightens its grip in Hong Kong again
The New York Times, November 13, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/opinion/beijing-tightens-its-grip-in-hong-kong-again.html

历史学家怎样看孙中山? (How do historians view Sun Yat-sen?)
Deutsche Welle, November 12, 2016
http://www.dw.com/zh/历史学家怎样看孙中山/a-36372863

Related:
孫中山先生150年冥壽抽水祭 (Sun Yat-sen’s 150th birthday seriously manipulated)
InMedia HK, November 12, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1045808

對香港未來的樂觀希望(文:董建華) (Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and former Hong Kong chief Tung Chee-hwa: Optimistic outlook of Hong Kong)
Ming Pao, November 12, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161112/s00022/1478877025940

Friday, November 11, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国官媒继续借大选抨击美政治体制 (Chinese state media continues to use the presidential election to attack U.S. political system)
Radio Free Asia, November 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zhengzhi/yf3-11102016104014.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China holds elections
The Economist, November 10, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21709975-only-way-it-likes-them-china-holds-elections

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China sentences former police chief to death for sinful, cruel murder
Reuters, November 11, 2016
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-crime-idUSKBN1360BR

China, rocked by fresh blasts, jails 49 over Tianjin disaster
Radio Free Asia, November 10, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/tianjin-blast-11102016160555.html

中国与联合国:不断深化的合作 (China and the UN: Continuously deepening collaboration)
People’s Daily, November 11, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/1111/c1001-28852920.html

英媒:孟宏伟领导国际刑警组织令人权团体忧虑 (British media: Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei to head Interpol, rights groups worried)
British Broadcasting Corporation, November 11, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/press_review/2016/11/161111_press_review

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

China adopts a tough cyber-security law
The Economist, November 10, 2016
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21710001-foreign-firms-are-worried-china-adopts-tough-cyber-security-law

National Security & Counterterrorism (国家安全和反恐)

Xi Jinping vows to fight separatism and any attempts to split territory from China
South China Morning Post, November 11, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2045110/xi-jinping-vows-fight-separatism-and-any-attempts-split

Hong Kong (香港)

Why did Beijing slap down Hong Kong separatists? To make a point
觸及「核心利益」,北京對香港不惜殺一儆百
The New York Times, November 10, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/world/asia/china-hong-kong-independence.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20161110/china-hong-kong-independence/zh-hant/

8 more pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong may lose seats
又有8名香港立法會議員被指宣誓心不誠
The New York Times, November 11, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/world/asia/china-hong-kong-oath.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20161111/china-hong-kong-oath/zh-hant/

Students protest Basic Law interpretation during visit from former secretary of justice
Hong Kong Free Press, November 10, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/10/students-protest-basic-law-interpretation-visit-former-secretary-justice/

彭定康月底港大談香港前途大學管治 (Former Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten to talk about future of Hong Kong and university governance end November)
Ming Pao, November 11, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20161111/s00001/1478849533434

Hong Kong venue cancels screening of protest film, citing political concerns
The New York Times, November 11, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/world/asia/china-hong-kong-oath.html

Commentary (评论)

Thank you Baggio Leung and Yau Wai-Ching for doing exactly what I voted for you to do
Hong Kong Free Press, November 10, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/10/thank-you-baggio-leung-and-yau-wai-ching-for-doing-exactly-what-i-voted-for-you-to-do/

Hong Kong’s protest leaders demand self-determination
The Wall Street Journal, November 9, 2016
http://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kongs-protest-leaders-demand-self-determination-1478721911

From local identity to the pursuit of independence: The changing face of Hong Kong localism
Hong Kong Free Press, November 11, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/11/from-local-identity-to-the-pursuit-of-independence-the-changing-face-of-hong-kong-localism/

How Hong Kong’s courts interpret Beijing’s interpretation of the Basic Law may yet surprise
South China Morning Post, November 9, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2044385/how-hong-kongs-courts-interpret-beijings-interpretation

Hong Kong courts should reject Beijing’s Basic Law ruling, says legal heavyweight
Hong Kong Free Press, November 11, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/11/hong-kong-courts-should-reject-beijings-basic-law-ruling-says-legal-heavyweight/

“An epochal change”: what a Trump presidency means for the Asia Pacific region
The Guardian, November 10, 2016
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/10/an-epochal-change-what-a-trump-presidency-means-for-the-asia-pacific-region

拒絕當權者的思維 (Reject the thinking of those in power)
InMedia HK, November 11, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1045770