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, February 07, 2017

Access to Information (信息公开)

Facebook is trying everything to re-enter China—and it’s not working
The Wall Street Journal, January 30, 2017
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mark-zuckerbergs-beijing-blues-1485791106

Minitrue: Delete report on air pollution deaths
China Digital Times, February 6, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/02/minitrue-delete-report-air-pollution-deaths/

Chinese authorities order overhaul of video site that posted footage of Tiananmen car incident
Hong Kong Free Press, February 6, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/06/chinese-authorities-order-overhaul-video-site-posted-footage-tiananmen-car-incident/

Related:
上載天安門前車禍短片 「梨視頻」翌日因未取得合資格證明遭勒令整改 (After uploading video of Tiananmen car accident, rectification and reform ordered for website “Pear Video” on grounds of failure to obtain legitimate permit)
Mingpao, February 6, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170206/s00004/1486375690934

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China begins prosecution of former senior spy on corruption charges
South China Morning Post, February 7, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2068557/china-begins-prosecution-former-senior-spy-corruption

We’re really not harvesting executed prisoners’ organs for transplant any more, China insists
South China Morning Post, February 7, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2068708/ban-harvesting-executed-prisoners-organs-transplant

Hong Kong (香港)

大公時評:特首選舉非可由反對派操控的「政治交易」 (Ta Kung Bao commentary: CE election is not a “political deal” manipulated by the opposition)
Mingpao, February 7, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170207/s00001/1486425526485

張德江據報指林鄭為中央唯一支持人選 出選人數則不限 (Zhang Dejiang says Carrie Lam is the only choice supported by the Central gov’t while no limit is set for number of candidates, sources say)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 7, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1312020-20170207.htm

香港民团发起游行反对林郑月娥参选特首 (Hong Kong civil society protests against Carrie Lam standing for CE)
Radio Free Asia, February 6, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/cp-02062017131124.html

曾俊华公布政纲 重启政改及推行《基本法》23条 (John Tsang releases campaign platform, plans to re-start political reform and pursue legislation for Art. 23 of Basic Law)
Deutsche Welle, February 6, 2017
http://www.dw.com/zh/曾俊华公布政綱-重启政改及推行基本法23条/ a-37435539

教局資助教聯出資料冊 指反廿三50萬人因誤解上街 (Education Bureau helps Hong Kong Federation of Educational Workers publish information booklet, says the protest of 500,000 participants in 2003 originated from “misunderstanding”)
Apple Daily, February 7, 2017
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20170205/56261857

C.Y. Leung welcomes John Tsang’s clear stance on enacting national security law in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Free Press, February 7, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/07/cy-leung-welcomes-john-tsangs-clear-stance-on-enacting-national-security-law-in-hong-kong/

Tycoon Xiao Jianhua’s return to mainland a political power play, analysts say
South China Morning Post, February 6, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/article/2068512/tycoons-return-mainland-political-power-play-analysts-say

Monday, February 06, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

內地當局不批准劉曉波家人在新年期間到獄中探望 (Mainland authorities deny request by Liu Xiaobo’s family to visit him in detention during Chinese New Year)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 4, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1311634-20170204.htm

「六四天网」黄琦因病取保被拒 官称可能有社会危险性 (Founder of 64tianwang.com Huang Qi’s request for release on bail on grounds of sickness rejected, authority says it may endanger society)
Radio France Internationale, February 5, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170205-「六四天网」黄琦因病取保被拒-官称可能有社会危险性

六旬农民自学法律 官司打赢央企 (60-year-old farmer self-taught in law, wins a case against a centrally-owned company)
Radio Free Asia, February 3, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shehui/ml1-02032017112558.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

News on Tiananmen crash circulates, and is deleted
China Digital Times, February 3, 2017
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2017/02/news-tiananmen-jeep-crash-circulates-deleted/

禁报霾 8省发「特强浓雾」、大雾黄色预警及伏地魔 (Smog reports banned, eight provinces release warnings for “extra strong fog”, “yellow fog warning” and “Voldemort”)
Radio France Internationale, February 5, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/ 20170205-禁报霾-8省发「特强浓雾」、大雾黄色预警及伏地魔

Related:
Netizen in China's Sichuan jailed over tweet about “worst smog in 2,000 years”
四川网民发布雾霾温馨提示 遭秋后算账被行拘
Radio Free Asia, February 3, 2017
EN: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/smog-02032017111756.html
CH: http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/xl1-02032017110714.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

New and old economy divisions deepen in Q4 worker actions
China Labor Bulletin, February 3, 2017
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/new-and-old-economy-divisions-deepen-q4-worker-actions

Related:
2016中国劳工集体维权触及新领域 (In 2016, worker collective action spreads to new areas)
Voice of America, February 4, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/china-labor-20170203/3705968.html

For couriers, China’s e-commerce boom can be a tough road
The New York Times, January 31, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/business/china-courier-delivery-labor.html

The detention of Wu Zeheng
The Diplomat, February 4, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/02/the-detention-of-wu-zeheng/

內地計劃修訂宗教事務條例 (Mainland plans to amend regulations regarding religious activities)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 6, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1311792-20170206.htm

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China punishes 11 for dereliction of duty after deadly bus fire
Reuters, February 4, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-crime-fire-idUSKBN15K00Z

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Mainland telecom providers can no longer provide service to those who do not register with IDs
Hong Kong Free Press, February 2, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/02/mainland-telecom-providers-can-no-longer-provide-service-not-register-ids/

中国拟新建网络安全审查委员会 (China plans to set up new committee for Internet safety examination)
Radio France Internationale, February 5, 2017
http://cn.rfi.fr/中国/20170205-中国拟新建网络安全审查委员会

Related:
China mulls new commission to monitor Internet risks
South China Morning Post, February 6, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2068270/china-mulls-new-commission-monitor-internet-risks

国家互联网信息办公室关于《网络产品和服务安全审查办法(征求意见稿)》公开征求意见的通知 (Cyberspace Administration of China Notice Regarding Solicitation of Comments on Examination Method for Safety of Internet Products and Services (Draft for Solicitation for Public Opinion))
Cyberspace Administration of China, February 4, 2017
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2017-02/04/c_1120407082.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

林煥光:有信心中央終會走向法治、自由、民主 (Lam Woon-kwong: I am confident that the Central gov't will eventually walk towards rule of law, freedom and democracy)
Mingpao, February 4, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170204/s00001/1486174223254

林鄭:港人中央矛盾源自不掌握基本法及法制不同 (Carrie Lam: Conflict between the Central gov't and Hong Kong people originates from a lack of understanding of the Basic Law and a difference in legal system)
Mingpao, February 5, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170205/s00001/1486260839320

Hong Kong in a corner after China’s raid on Xiao Jianhua
Financial Times, February 4, 2017
https://www.ft.com/content/71a7583e-e9fb-11e6-967b-c88452263daf

Commentary (评论)

特首選舉民調(1月底) (Polling data on the CE election (end of January))
InmediaHK, February 5, 2017
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1047414

Why’s Beijing so worried about Western values infecting China’s youth?
ChinaFile, February 4, 2017
http://www.chinafile.com/features/whys-beijing-so-worried-about-western-values-infecting-chinas-youth

Donald Trump is making China great again
The Guardian, February 3, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/03/donald-trump-making-china-great-again-xi-jinping

The top 10 Weibo posts on international affairs censored by China in 2016
Hong Kong Free Press, February 4, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/04/top-10-weibo-posts-international-affairs-censored-china-2016/

The dire consequences of the imprisonment of Ilham Tohti
China Change, February 5, 2017
https://chinachange.org/2017/02/05/the-dire-consequences-of-the-imprisonment-of-ilham-tohti/

Friday, February 03, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Tibetan singer is freed from prison after serving four-year term
Radio Free Asia, February 2, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/freed-02022017154603.html

国际社会掀起声援中国被捕律师潮 (Wave of support from international community for detained lawyers in China)
Radio Free Asia, February 2, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/xl1-02022017105102.html

Related:
Mass Crackdown on Chinese Lawyers, Defenders and International Reactions: A Brief Chronology
Human Rights in China, January 23, 2017
http://www.hrichina.org/en/mass-crackdown-chinese-lawyers-defenders-and-international-reactions-brief-chronology

Access to Information (信息公开)

Online criticism of China's New Year state TV gala disappears
Radio Free Asia, February 2, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/online-criticism-of-chinas-new-year-state-tv-gala-disappears-02022017115908.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese officials use hotlines to take the public’s pulse
The Economist, February 4, 2017
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21716062-so-why-are-there-so-many-protests-chinese-officials-use-hotlines-take-publics-pulse

Hong Kong (香港)

University of Hong Kong chief Peter Mathieson resigns; will leave city to head University of Edinburgh
Hong Kong Free Press, February 2, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/02/breaking-university-hong-kong-vice-chancellor-peter-mathieson-resigns/

Related:
辭任港大校長 馬斐森「抱歉」 函師生祝續享言論自由 (After resignation as vice-chancellor of University of Hong Kong, Mathieson sends “apology” email to staff and students, hopes students continue to enjoy freedom of speech)
Mingpao, February 3, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170203/s00001/1486058512437

馮敬恩指馬斐森任內對港大問題沒有好好處理 (Billy Fung: Mathieson did not handle problems of University of Hong Kong well during his term)
Radio Television Hong Kong, February 3, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1311356-20170203.htm

張達明憂李國章主持下遴選新校長 港大不能維持多元 (Eric Cheung worries about maintaining diversity in University of Hong Kong under Arthur Li’s lead to elect new vice-chancellor)
Mingpao, February 3, 2017
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170203/s00001/1486084424254

A billionaire’s disappearance rattles Hong Kong
The Economist, February 4, 2017
http://www.economist.com/news/china/21716054-chinese-agents-may-have-crossed-line-again-billionaires-disappearance-rattles-hong-kong

Commentary (评论)

Liaoning high court looks into labor issues in bankruptcy
Supreme People’s Court Monitor, February 3, 2017
https://supremepeoplescourtmonitor.com/2017/02/03/liaoning-high-court-looks-into-labor-issues-in-bankruptcy/

China’s Xi is no answer to Trump
Quartz, February 1, 2017
https://qz.com/898504/chinas-xi-is-no-answer-to-trump/

Thursday, February 02, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese police detain netizens for “insulting” officers online
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/chinese-police-detain-netizens-for-insulting-officers-online-02012017122417.html

谢阳案起诉书曝光 代理律师将逐条反驳 (Indictment of Xie Yang comes to light, his lawyer will refute every part)
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-02012017103143.html

涉709事件︰幸清贤证实获取保 (709 case: Xing Qingxian confirmed to have been released on bail)
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ml1-02012017110432.html

中国再有多人因辱骂警察被抓 引发舆论两极反应 (More people arrested in China for insulting police officers, sparks polarized reaction)
Radio Free Asia, February 1, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/yf1-02012017105642.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

How China banned a Swedish journalist from the country using visa restrictions
Hong Kong Free Press, January 31, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/01/31/how-china-banned-a-swedish-journalist-from-the-country-using-visa-restrictions/

美国律师协会为受难律师高智晟出书 (American Bar Association will publish tortured lawyer Gao Zhisheng’s book)
Voice of America, February 2, 2017
http://www.voachinese.com/a/media-watch-20170201/3702820.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China labor unrest spreads to “new economy”
Financial Times, February 2, 2017
https://www.ft.com/content/4cdb6802-e82e-11e6-893c-082c54a7f539

Hong Kong (香港)

Pro-democracy parties march in protest of gov’t legal challenge against four lawmakers
Hong Kong Free Press, February 1, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/01/pro-democracy-parties-march-protest-govt-legal-challenge-four-lawmakers/

Joshua Wong: The activist who took on China now stars in an award-winning documentary
Agence France-Presse, February 1, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/01/joshua-wong-activist-took-china-now-stars-award-winning-documentary/

Watchdog warns against Beijing’s encroachment on freedoms in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Free Press, February 1, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/01/watchdog-warns-beijings-encroachment-freedoms-hong-kong/

Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua “abducted” from Hong Kong hotel
The Guardian, February 1, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/01/chinese-billionaire-xiao-jianhua-abducted-from-hong-kong-hotel-reports

Related:
Source confirms missing tycoon is in mainland China, not “receiving treatment overseas”
South China Morning Post, February 1, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2067094/source-confirms-missing-tycoon-mainland-china-not-receiving

Is Carrie Lam Hong Kong's next leader? The media seems to think so.
The Diplomat, January 30, 2017
http://thediplomat.com/2017/01/is-carrie-lam-hong-kongs-next-leader-the-media-seems-to-think-so/

Commentary (评论)

The origins of China’s new law on foreign NGOs
ChinaFile, January 31, 2017
https://www.chinafile.com/viewpoint/origins-of-chinas-new-law-foreign-ngos

China’s Xi is no answer to Trump
Quartz, February 1, 2017
https://qz.com/898504/chinas-xi-is-no-answer-to-trump/