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.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

充满血泪的棉花:美智库披露新疆“棉花劳改营” (Human rights group reveals forced labor in Xinjiang as part of camp system)
Radio Free Asia, August 22, 2019

无声的思念:新疆维族拍抖音纪念失踪亲人 (Xinjiang’s Uyghurs make Douyin videos in memory of missing family)
Deutsche Welle, August 22, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

Google shuts down 210 Youtube channels posting “coordinated” disinformation about Hong Kong protests
The Independent, August 23, 2019

Related:
抵制舆论操作 Youtube关停210个频道 (YouTube takes down 210 channels used to spread fake news or manipulate propaganda against Hong Kong’s protests)
Deutsche Welle, August 23, 2019

中国青年严正抗议推特脸书 不提国内微信群大量被封 (China’s youth are protesting bans by Twitter and Facebook over Hong Kong protests, but take Weibo’s censorship in stride)
Radio Free Asia, August 22, 2019

China urges foreign media to “help right public opinion wrongs” on Hong Kong protests
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

Related:
Chinese state media hire digital firms to boost followers on Facebook, Twitter
Radio Free Asia, August 22, 2019

Video: Chinese officials use Twitter to sway public opinion despite ban
Bloomberg, August 21, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Denise Ho: The pop star and activist on Hong Kong’s front line
Sydney Morning Herald, August 23, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Sydney private schools launch own Confucius reviews as China raises concerns
Sydney Morning Herald, August 23, 2019

Related:
China criticizes Australian move to close language schools
Washington Post, August 23, 2019

China hopes Donald Trump “honours” earlier hands-off stance on Hong Kong despite latest US trade war link
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong braces for fresh protests as activists target airport
Al Jazeera, August 23, 2019

Related:
Hong Kong court extends restrictions on airport protesters: state TV
Reuters, August 23, 2019

Hong Kong families form peaceful human chains ahead of airport protest
Reuters, August 22, 2019

Hong Kong court extends interim injunction at airport amid continuing threat of disturbances
The Guardian, August 22, 2019

MTR Corporation wins injunction to keep Hong Kong protesters off railway property after protests at stations this week
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

10 universities to boycott classes for two weeks
The Standard, August 23, 2019

Woman arrested at anti-government protest accuses Hong Kong police of humiliating and unnecessary strip search
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Identification of Hong Kong riot officers using undisclosed codes on helmets is “unsatisfactory”, police watchdog says, calling for clarity and accountability
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Related:
Police watchdog member walks back support for officers not wearing ID numbers amid Hong Kong anti-government protests
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Hong Kong protests: young, educated mainland Chinese are questioning their place in the city
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Protest fears stalk Hong Kong businesses as China threat looms
Reuters, August 23, 2019

A Cathay Pacific labor leader was fired for her Facebook posts on Hong Kong’s protests
Quartz, August 23, 2019

Related:
一群國泰港龍員工:嚴厲譴責國泰及香港機場地勤公司違反《基本法》及《香港人權法案》 (Cathay Dragon staff issue joint letter condemning Cathay Pacific and Airport Services for violating Basic Law and Bill of Rights)
Stand News, August 23, 2019

【國泰受壓】國泰發新指引 對員工參與非法活動零容忍 員工社交媒體表態亦受管 (Cathay Pacific issues new internal guidelines, stating “zero tolerance” for participation in illegal activities, social media will be monitored)
Stand News, August 23, 2019

Cathay Pacific staff warned over social media use as airline deals with fallout from Chinese aviation authority move
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Hong Kong unions urge Cathay Pacific to end “white terror”
Reuters, August 23, 2019

A Hong Kong “troublemaker” with a clean conscience
The New York Times, August 23, 2019

Hong Kong protests: gentler approach to resolving stand-offs “worth considering”, says police officer whose efforts to persuade youths to go home went viral online
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Woman who suffered severe eye injury during Hong Kong protest has not gone blind, hospital source says
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Thousands of Hong Kong accountants join protest march – despite pleas from employers and promise of free lunches
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

As Hong Kong firms fall in line over protests, some workers push back
The New York Times, August 23, 2019

香港抗议持续 盘点中国采取的五大应对办法 (Roundup of the 5 measures China has taken against Hong Kong’s protests)
BBC, August 23, 2019

「和理同行」指獨立調查是港人最大公因數 張達明批對話平台作用成疑 (Scholar doubts use of “communication platform” suggested by Carrie Lam, reiterates independent investigation is “highest common factor” among Hong Kong people)
Inmediahk.net, August 23, 2019

港鐵站務主任實名聯署 促管理層譴責警方車站內不負責任行動 (MTR’s station managers urge corporation to condemn irresponsible actions by police in rail stations, conduct thorough cleaning of stations to clear toxic tear gas residues)
Inmediahk.net, August 23, 2019

Chinese students in Australia 'wedged' by politics back home
Channel News Asia, August 23, 2019

Hong Kong: Protesters demand justice for masked mob who attacked them with metal rods and clubs
Vice News, August 23, 2019

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Alice Mak sues two Hong Kong democrats for defamation, accusing them of linking her to Yuen Long attack
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

Hong Kong's political crisis reverberates through its big-name brands
Radio Free Asia, August 22, 2019

Banks in Hong Kong condemn violence, urge restoration of 'harmony'
Reuters, August 21, 2019

Hong Kong businesses fear protests will push economy into recession
The Guardian, August 22, 2019

警方朗讀網上言論批市民散播仇恨 否認針對示威者 (Police use press conference to highlight hate speech by protesters against police, journalists criticize omission of threats by police supporters)
Inmediahk.net, August 22, 2019

China's state media accuses worker at UK consulate “of visiting prostitutes”
The Guardian, August 22, 2019

Related:
Family of UK Hong Kong consulate worker reject “made-up” report about arrest over prostitution
The Telegraph, August 23, 2019

Britain presses for information on HK consulate worker detained in China
Reuters, August 22, 2019

英国驻港领事馆职员深圳被拘 香港集会声援 吁英国救人 (“Free Simon Cheng”: Hong Kong citizens rally outside British Consulate urging steps to rescue staff detained by mainland authorities)
Radio France Internationale, August 21, 2019

加拿大據報暫停駐港總領事館香港僱員往中國內地公幹 (Canada suspends work trips into mainland by consulate staff in Hong Kong)
Radio Television Hong Kong, August 23, 2019

Related:
Canadian consulate suspends travel to China for Hong Kong staff
Reuters, August 22, 2019

Hong Kong Protests: Youth try to define city’s future
Al Jazeera, August 22, 2019

“We must defend our city”: A day in the life of a Hong Kong protester
The Guardian, August 22, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Democracy is at stake in Hong Kong. Does Trump care?
The Atlantic, August 23, 2019

How to make a fool of yourself by waving a flag
South China Morning Post, August 23, 2019

Beijing is shooting its own foot in Hong Kong
Foreign Policy, August 22, 2019

香港正迎来一场“人民战争”
The people’s war is coming in Hong Kong
The New York Times, August 21, 2019

Hong Kong “is a battle for survival and for freedom”
Economist, August 21, 2019

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Qatar withdraws support for China over its treatment of Muslims
Bloomberg, August 21, 2019

Silencing of activist shows Kazakhstan’s contempt for rights: Conditions on Serikzhan Bilash’s release should be dropped
Human Rights Watch, August 21, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Taiwanese man tells Thai court he did not allow radio broadcasts into China
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

「掃黑除惡」在掃除什麼?法官、掃黑辦主任和政法教師這樣說 (What is “sweeping away black and eliminating evil”? Mainland China’s national campaign against gangs, crime, and evil forces)
Initium, August 22, 2019

China’s propaganda machine is spending over $1 million to buy influence on foreign social media
Quartz, August 21, 2019

Related:
中国软实力的失败:对外谴责香港抗议
China’s soft-power failure: Condemning Hong Kong’s protests
The New York Times, August 20, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

北京律师陈秋实来港见证历史被强令提前返回 (In Hong Kong to witness history, Beijing lawyer Chen Qiushi is forced to return to China early)
Voice of America, August 22, 2019

Related:
Chinese human rights lawyer ”safe” after return from Hong Kong protests trip
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2019

澳警方:中港留学生示威中的辱骂行为违法 (Australian police: Threats and defamation used in protests between pro-China and pro-Hong Kong demonstrators are illegal, wearing facemasks is not)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, August 21, 2019

Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister headlines pro-Beijing rally near Toronto
National Post, August 21, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Macau to “elect” Beijing-backed leader
Taipei Times, August 22, 2019

China’s parliament rules out allowing same-sex marriage
Reuters, August 21, 2019

China’s grand plans for Shenzhen: The new plan for Shenzhen also shines a light on China’s long-term strategy toward Hong Kong
The Diplomat, August 21, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

中国产VPN程式九成存私隐风险 (Chinese VPNs contain privacy risks)
Radio Free Asia, August 21, 2019

Hong Kong (香港)

In Pictures: Sit-in marking a month since MTR mob attacks ends in dramatic standoff with Hong Kong riot police
Hong Kong Free Press, August 22, 2019

Related:
Hong Kong protesters clash with police, angry at lack of prosecutions after subway mob attack
Reuters, August 21, 2019

Expert in respiratory medicine urges Hong Kong police to draw up tear gas guidelines after warning of dangers of improper use
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

中国承认拘留英国驻香港领事馆一雇员 (China admits it has detained employee of UK consulate in Hong Kong)
Voice of America, August 21, 2019

Related:
China’s detention of a Hong Kong employee of the UK’s Hong Kong Consulate: A preliminary explainer
Jerome A. Cohen, August 21, 2019

“We feel helpless”: Hong Kong family's fears for detained UK consulate worker
The Guardian, August 21, 2019

Cathay Pacific pilot who went viral for telling Hongkongers to “keep it up” no longer with airline
Hong Kong Free Press, August 21, 2019

Department of Justice demands trainee lawyer explain accusations of hate speech directed at Hong Kong police
South China Morning Post, August 21, 2019

China’s three-pronged strategy to choke Hong Kong’s protests
Agence France-Presse, August 21, 2019

Commentary (评论)

Scare tactics from Beijing will only strengthen the resolve of Hong Kong protesters
South China Morning Post, August 22, 2019

Why there’s no end in sight to the Hong Kong protests
The Nation, August 21, 2019

How technology platforms should deal with hostile state-owned propaganda outlets
Freedom House, August 21, 2019

The perils of imperial alignment: Hong Kong’s anti-extradition movement at the crossroads of Chinese class struggle and Western-backed self determination
The Volcano, August 20, 2019

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Xinjiang (新疆)

Families of missing Uighurs use Tiktok video app to publicise China detention
The Guardian, August 20, 2019

Uighurs can’t escape Chinese repression, even in Europe
The Atlantic, August 20, 2019

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Background: Cheng Yuan (程渊), Liu Dazhi (刘大志), Wu Gejianxiong (吴葛健雄)
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, August 20, 2019

Access to Information (信息公开)

US conservative media outlet’s ties to Chinese spiritual movement put in spotlight
The Telegraph, August 20, 2019

China’s soft-power failure: Condemning Hong Kong’s protests
The New York Times, August 20, 2019

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Taiwan leader lauds Cathay CEO for listing self instead of giving names to CCP
Taiwan News, August 19, 2019

Government Accountability (政府问责)

握紧中国“民间大使”的接力棒(侨界关注)(Gaining attention of overseas community: Chinese citizen ambassadors in Africa)
People’s Daily, August 21, 2019

China’s belt and road cargo to Europe under scrutiny as operator admits to moving empty containers
South China Morning Post, August 20, 2019

蔡英文:香港例子证明民主与独裁势不两立 台湾坚拒恐吓 (Tsai Ing-wen: Hong Kong’s example proves that dictatorship and democracy cannot coexist; Taiwan refuses to be intimidated)
Radio France Internationale, August 20, 2019

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Protest and authoritarianism in the Internet age
Christian Science Monitor, August 20, 2019

Instagram censors Melbourne artist's anti-Beijing post but ignores trolls
The Guardian, August 20, 2019