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, March 02, 2005

March 3, 2005


Top news of the day

Children – child labour
Hebei textile factory owner covers up child labour death with the help of police
河北老板将童工活着送去火葬闷死，警察庇护凶嫌
Boxun.com, March 3, 2005
Human rights group reported that an owner of a textile factory in a rural village in Hebei covered-up the death of 5 female child labour aged from 14 to 17 who inhaled charcoal fumes in the factory.
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/yuanqing/2005/03/2005
03031134.shtml



Death penalty
Death penalty review to return to Supreme Court next year
最高人民法院有望明年收回死刑复核权
EastDay.com, March 3, 2005
Sources close to the People’s Supreme Court revealed that death penalty review would likely to return to the Supreme Court next year, marking a crucial move in the death penalty reform.
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51950/userobject1ai905641.html

Disaster / Labour - industrial accidents
20 children killed in China blast
Reuters via YahooNews.com, March 3, 2005
A cache of explosives at the home of a coal mine manager blew up in a town in Shanxi, killing him and at least 20 children at a nearby grade school.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/2005
0303/wl_nm/china_explosion_dc



News

Bilaterals - US/China
China fires back at U.S. rights criticisms, accuses Washington of violations
AP, Thursday March 3, 2005
http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050303/ap/d88jcr8o0.html

Gender
Gender equality hits mainstream
China Daily, March 3, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/03/content
_421158.htm

Gender – marriage
Marriage Law most familiar among women
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_26417
97.htm

Hukou
New law to guarantee free migration
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_26427
93.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU may be penalised over plan to lift arms sales ban
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZSHMJ985E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Guangdong senior officials required to resign for industrial accidents killing more than 50 people, according new regulation
广东规定事故一次死亡50人以上地市领导须辞职
EastDay.com, March 3, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51950/userobject1ai906053.html

Resources rolled out to prevent mining disasters
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZU45A585E.html

Owners forced to fund mine safety upgrading
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_264
1565.htm

Law – legal reform / re-education through labour
NPC set to discard re-education through labour (RTL)
中国人大今年将立法废除劳教
Dajiyuan.com, March 3, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/3/n834008.htm

Migrant workers
China offers more jobs to migrant millions
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_2642
200.htm

South China Feels Acute Labor Shortage
Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2005
Thousands of local enterprises in Guangdong report a combined need for at least 2 million workers if they want to operate at full capacity, according to an official with the provincial government.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121578.htm

Politics – NPC
NPC progress in processing bills
Xinhuanet.com, March 3, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/03/content_2642
537.htm

Politics - Political reforms / NPC
Hopes for political reform dashed as party cements power
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIA7A585E.html

Population – one-child policy / Law
Criminalized illegal sex-identification to revive sex-ratio
我国男女性别比例失衡 非法鉴定胎儿性别应负刑责
Legal Daily, March 3, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-03/03/content_191
922.htm

Protests and petitions
Thousands of Petitioners Converge on Beijing Ahead of NPC, Hundreds Detained
Radio Free Asia, March 2, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/politics/2005/03/02/china_
NPC_petitioners/

Resettlement – forceful eviction
Displaced villagers to miss out on profits from land auction
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ1IMJ985E.html

Religion
Rights group announces UN judgment on China’s arbitrary detention of church leader Zhang Yinan (張義南)
对华援助协会公布联合国就张义南被任意拘禁作出的裁定
Boxun.com, March 2, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/religion/2005/03/20050
3020722.shtml

Rural issues / NPC
Problems lurk behind contented farmers
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZOJUK985E.html

China to Subsidize Farmers with 5.5b Yuan
Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121660.htm#

Hong Kong – Basic Law
HK deputies may revive move to review Basic Law
SCMP, March 3, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXHMJ985E.html

Taiwan
China Plans to Pass Anti-Secession Law
AP, Mar 3, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050303/ap_on_re_as/china_tough_on_taiwan

Tibet
"White Paper of distorted facts and figures"
TYC, March 03, 2005
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=%22White+Paper+of+distorted+facts+and+figures%22+TYC&id=9150

March 2, 2005

Top news of the day

Law - Legal profession
Guo Guoting demands public hearing over unreasonable treatments of the authority
郭国汀律师要求举行听证会
Dajiyuan.com, March 2, 2005
Guo Guoting (郭國汀), a renowned lawyer for defending cases of political dissidents, demanded a public hearing over maltreatment by the Shanghai authority, who took away his computer and lawyer license and threatened of giving him administrative punishment.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/2/n832952.htm


Politics - NPC
Petitioners taken away as Beijing tightens security for NPC meetings
北京加强戒备 大客车带走上访者
Radio Free Asia, March 1, 2005
Witnesses reported that at least 100 petitioners in Beijing, most of whom women, were taken away by police early this week as the government tightened security for the NPC and CPPCC meetings.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/03/01/shangfangzhe/




News

Corruption
Communist Party Leaders Struggle to Contain Rising Corruption in China
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa7.cfm

Education - compulsory
Education Ministry Reports Progress in 2004
Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2005
By the end of 2004, 93.6 percent of children were enrolled in the nation's nine-year compulsory education program, said the Ministry of Education's Han Jin at a press conference on Tuesday.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Mar/121511.htm

Human rights – bilateral ties
US attacks China's record on civil rights
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZP6RK985E.html

Asian Nations Respond Angrily to Annual US Human Rights Report
VOA, 01 March 2005
Leading the criticism was China, which accused the United States of implementing a double standard on human rights, and interfering in its internal affairs.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa9.cfm

China to issue human rights record of the United States
People's Daily, March 2, 2005
The Information Office of the State Council will issue on March 3 the Human Rights Record of the United States in 2004.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/02/eng20050302_175
185.html

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Rehabilitate Zhao, urge Tiananmen relatives
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZALJJ985E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Rights group urges EU not to lift arms ban
人权组织吁欧盟勿解除军售禁令
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/W2005-03-01-voa75.cfm

Taiwan raps EU over plans to lift China arms ban
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZC0SK985E.html

China's Tiananmen families seek parliament redress
Reuters, March 1, 2005
http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG4_sub.asp?ccode=ENG4&new
scode=94358

Law – legal profession
Lawyers take high risk in defending social justice
中国律师维护社会正义风险大
Voice of America, March 1, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2005-03-01-voa62.cfm

Media - internet
Internet curbs tightened
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitech/ZZZGG0A585E.html

Featured article: commercialization and freedom of speech of internet media in China
萧强：中国网络媒体高度商业化与言论自由
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 2, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
3_1_20_10_35_7.html

Police – crime
China Confronts Rising Crime in a Fast-track Economy
Voice of America, February 28, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-28-voa9.cfm

Politics
Small reforms could change whole society
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/02/content_263
6918.htm

Politics – NPC
Walking the nationalist tightrope
SCMP, March 2, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ842A585E.html

China tightens Internet security during imminent plenary NPC meeting
People’s Daily, March 2, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175140.html

Protests and petitions
China to reshuffle petition system to meet new regulation
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/01/content_263
5625.htm

Public health
Over 65% Chinese people not covered by medical insurance and a quarter do not take medical treatment when they are sick
中国65.7%居民无医疗保险 1/4的人有病不去就医
EastDay.com, March 2, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51862/userobject1ai904456.html

Public health - HIV/AIDS
China detects 539 HIV positive cases in border check-up in 2004:
World News, March 1, 2005
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/3cf018ff74df23
a7/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Chinese HIV sufferers must tell spouses
Big News Network, 1st March, 2005 (UPI)
Anyone from Southwest China's Yunnan Province who tests positive for HIV must inform their spouse, the official China Daily said Monday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/48abfcd4046f89
e1/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Society - divorce
China tries to stem soaring divorce rate
The Guardian, March 2, 2005
Chinese authorities are sending "think again" letters to couples applying for divorce after the number of people ending their marriages surged by 21% last year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,7369,1428224,00.html
?gusrc=rss

Hong Kong
Reports: Hong Kong's Leader Plans to Quit
AP via YahooNews.com, March 2, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&a
mp;amp;ncid= 731&e=10&u=/ap/20050302/ap_on_re_as/hong
_kong_politics

Democracy death-knell: Martin Lee
The Standard, March 2, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GC02
Aa02.html

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

March 1, 2005


Top news of the day

Human Rights – bilateral ties
China Gets Tough Marks in U.S. Rights Report
Reuters via YahooNews.com, February 28, 2005
In the latest report on human rights published by the US State Department, China is highlighted for the government’s poor human rights record and is criticized for persistent human rights abuses on religion and the political dissidents.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&ncid=
731&e=9&u=/nm/20050228/pl_nm/rights_asia_dc


June 4th
Families of June 4th victims urge to review June 4th massacre in Open Letter
六四难属公开致函两会代表，呼吁讨论审议八九六四事件
Radio Free Asia, February 28, 2005
Ding Zilin and more than 100 other family members of people killed or injured in the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square wrote an open letter to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference urging for reviewing the incident.
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/28/dingzilin/

News

Education
Extra investment in education urged
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZJKY9585E.html

Environment
GDP ecological costs closely calculated
Xinhuanet.com, March 1, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-03/01/content_263
1851.htm

Gender – marriage
Divorce rate surges 20pc in one year
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZUJFJ985E.html

Gender – sex workers
Featured article: Aids epidemic in China provides insights for legalizing sex work?
京虎子来稿：艾滋病推动中国“妓女合法化”？
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 28, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005
_2_28_10_9_7_688.html

Government – governance and accountability
Excerpted article: What have China achieved in the past two years under the leadership of Hu and Wen?
明报：「胡温新政」两年成绩单
Chinesenewsnet.com, March 1, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_28_17_4_17_974.html

Top legislature to conduct law enforcement inspections
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175031.html

Who audit the Audit Department?
谁来审计审计部门
China Youth Daily, March 1, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/01/content_1039382.htm

Hukou
Freedom of mobility: the ultimate goal of the Hukou legislation
迁徙自由：户籍立法的终极目标
China Youth Daily, March 1, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-03/01/content_1039372.htm

Labour – protests
4 labour activists arrested after participating in a Shenzhen labour protest
深圳工潮四工人被拘捕
Radio Free Asia, February 27, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/27/gongchao/

Law – legal profession
An unfortunate day for dissidents’ lawyer Guo Guoting (郭國汀): computer and lawyer license taken away by the authority
郭国汀律师遭遇黑色元宵节
Boxun News, February 28, 2005
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/02/20050228
1849.shtml

Politics
New call for crackdown on 'hostile forces'
The Standard, March 1, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/China/GC01Ad08.html

CPPCC leader calls for democracy, unity for coming annual session
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175030.html

Politics – NPC
Chinese top legislature publicizes annual legislation plan with 31 drafts
People’s Daily, March 1, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/01/eng20050301_
175028.html

Political dissidents (imprisonment)
Dissident jailed and exploited the right to work for involving in the setup of new political party
参与组建新党 被中共监禁并剥夺工作权
Dajiyuan.com, March 1, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/3/1/n830921.htm

Protests and petitions / Public health
Sars victims blast officials for ignoring their plight
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZRKY9585E.html

Public health – HIV aids
In her own words: Aids orphan accuses her adopted father of embezzling her donated funds
捐款疑遭“養父”吞佔 艾滋孤兒的血淚自白
Asia Times Online, February 28, 2005
http://www.atchinese.com/2005/02/0228rep.htm

Religion
China Enacting New Regulations on Religion
AP via YahooNews.com, February 28, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid
=731&e=10&u=/ap/20050228/ap_on_re_as/china_religion

Rural issues
Disenfranchised farmers are paying the price
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIJFJ985E.html

Society – ethnic minority
Minorities to receive more funding
SCMP, March 1, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZLF0A585E.html

North Korea
U.S. Slams China's Repatriation of North Koreans
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/02/25/us_nkorea/

Sunday, February 27, 2005

February 26-28, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Chen Xiaoming (陳小明)
Shanghai rights activist Chen Xiaoming detained before US Consulate visit
上海一维权者(陳小明)在见美领事前被截
Voice of America, February 26, 2005
Shanghai resident, Chen Xiaoming (陳小明), is reported taken away by the police on his way to an appointment at the U.S. Consulate to speak with a consular official about the case of detained petitioner Mao Hengfeng (毛恒鳯).
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-26-voa41.cfm




News

Corruption
Wen in new salvo against corruption
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZH8KK985E.html

International anti-corruption group Transparency International talks about corruption in China
国际反腐组织谈中外腐败
Voice of America, February 27, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-27-voa33.cfm

Environment - disasters
Yellow River Ice Thaw a Threat
China Daily, February 28, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121368.htm#

Human rights
China, Egypt, Sudan among countries cited for human rights abuses
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
The U.S. State Department in its annual report on human rights found systematic torture in Syria, serious abuses in China and the killing of civilians by government-backed militia in Sudan's troubled Darfur province.
http://www3.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/CanadianPress/WorldNews/w022835A.htm

Labour – employment market
Officials refuse to admit labour crisis
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ1KIK985E.html

'We just can't find suitable candidates'
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZXJIK985E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Coal mine accident kills 4 in Shaan'xi
Xinhuanet.com, February 26, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/26/content_262
2083.htm

Law
12 new laws to take effect on March 1
从3月1日起12项新法律法规新春添暖意
Xinhuanet.com, February 28, 2005
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/3206118.html

Criminal Law Amended to Curb Credit Card Crimes
Xinhua News Agency, February 26, 2005
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121244.htm

Law – judicial system
UN hits out at China's judicial system for political and arbitrary bias
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 25, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050225/19/t8mn.html

Expert Witness System to Be Changed
Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2005
China's expert witnesses, who are currently employed by judicial or other public departments, will soon be independent civil agents, according to a draft decision on appraisal of justice submitted to China's top legislature Friday.
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121247.htm

Natural resources and energy
Seasonal blackouts expected instead of major power cuts
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJTS9585E.html

Police – administrative detention (labour camp)
UN urges China to review labour camps system
ABC via YahooNews.com, February 26, 2005
http://au.news.yahoo.com/050226/21/t8ya.html

Politics
Jiang's departure will complete transition of power
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZW3X9585E.html

Population – one-child policy
Tougher line sought on aborting girl fetuses
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ0TU9585E.html

Political dissidents – Hada (哈達)
US congressman urges China to release Mogol dissident Hada
美议员促胡锦涛释放蒙古族异议人士哈达
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 25, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_25_18_26_31_422.html

Protests and petitions – UN
Full text of an open petition letter to UN submitted by 106 Chinese dissidents
附件：中国106人致联合国公开信
Voice of America, February 26, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-26-voa7.cfm

Public health
New Henan Health Checks Prove Controversial
China Daily, February 26, 2005
When compulsory HIV/AIDS and venereal disease testing became a must for all public entertainment employees in Henan Province four days ago, officials were not banking on the public debate which followed.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121254.htm

Reform - population control
Criminal Penalties Mulled for Gender-based Abortions
China Daily, February 28, 2005
Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) called on Saturday for a new criminal law prohibiting gender-based abortion and fetal gender identification for non-medical purposes.
http://china.org.cn/english/2005/Feb/121283.htm

Rewards Give Impetus to One-child Policy
Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2005
Zhang Jianli and Wang Shulian, an old couple in a village of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province, recently received 1,200 yuan (US$144) in rewards from the local government for sticking to the government's one-child policy.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121371.htm

Religion
China to enact new regulations on religious freedom
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
China is implementing new religious regulations that the government says will protect freedom of faith. Critics complain that the broad guidelines could instead be used to persecute religious groups.
www.ap.org

Society
Seeking a modern role for ancient values
SCMP, February 26, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZAM9J985E.html

Society – ethnicity
China publishes white paper on regional autonomy for ethnic minorities
Xinhuanet.com, February 28, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/28/content_262
7889.htm

Hong Kong – the Basic Law
Think-tank to study HK-Beijing ties
SCMP, February 28, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ98KK985E.html

Tibet
China says minority separatists still active
Associated Press Newswires, 28 February 2005
China condemned alleged ethnic minority separatists Monday, saying they're backing independence for Tibet and the country's far western Muslim region.
www.ap.org

Friday, February 25, 2005

February 25, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Lawyer quit in the midst of stiff pressures over Lin Mu’s lawsuit against police’s illegal detention
前胡耀邦秘书状告公安遭压顶
Voice of America, February 24, 2005
Gao Zhisheng (高智晟), one of the lawyer of Li Mu (林枚)’s lawsuit against Xian police for illegal detention, decided to withdraw from the case yesterday. Yet, the withdrawal is believed to be related to stiff political pressures from the government and the communist party on the lawsuit. http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2005-02-24-voa60.cfm

Protests and petitions - UN
Activists call on UN to intervene over rights
SCMP, February 25, 2005
106 mainland political activists submitted a petition letter to the UN calling for intervention in China’s human rights issues and the release of several dissidents including Shi Tao (師濤), Ye Guozhu (葉國柱), Zhao Xin (趙昕) and Zhang Lin (張林).
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZCBR9585E.html



News


Education
The development of National School Fees Sponsorship Scheme
国家助学贷款发展脉络
China Youth Daily, February 25, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/25/content_1037814.htm

Two fundamental directions for fixing existing education policy
教育政策调整的两个根本方向
Nanfang Weekend, February 24, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/zm/20050224/xw/ttzs/2005
02240002.asp

Gender
Chinese woman, 104, can stay
SCMP, February 25, 2005
http://asia.scmp.com/asianews/ZZZBEP9585E.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
EU trade commissioner urges China to provide solid evidence to justify EU’s move to lift arms ban
曼德尔森敦促北京提供能解除武禁的证据
Radio Free Asia, February 25, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/24/wuqijinling/

Europe sees ending China arms embargo as way to better ties
International Herald Tribune, February 25, 2005
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/24/news/arms.html

China Arms Embargo Not What It Seems
AP via YahooNews.com, February 24, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050224/
ap_on_re_eu/europe_arms_to_china_3

Government – civil service
Bureaucrats lose chance of another pay increase
SCMP, February 25, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAPEK985E.html

Hukou
3 major shortcomings of China’s hukou systems provokes the needs for new law
我国户籍管理制度存三大弊端 将制定新户籍法
Xinhuanet.com, February 24, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-02/24/content
_2612666.htm




Multilaterals - UN
UN hits out at China's judicial system for political and arbitrary bias
AFP, Feb 25, 2005
The United Nations has urged China to better safeguard constitutionally protected rights and criticised Beijing for arbitrarily jailing those who peacefully voice religious and political views.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/2005
0225/wl_asia_afp/chinaunrights

Protests and petitions
Amendments to Improve Petition System
China Daily, February 24, 2005
Approved by the State Council on January 5, newly revised regulation on citizen petitions, which will take effect on May 1, signals the government's determination to bring the petition system in line with the changing times and create a more harmonious society.
http://service.china.org.cn/link/wcm/Show_Text?info_id=121087
&p_qry=law


Public health – HIV aids
China Must Expand AIDS Fight – UNICEF
Reuters via YahooNew.com, February 25, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050224
/wl_nm/aids_china_unicef_dc_1

Rural issues - migrants
Province Sets up Worker Database
China Daily, February 25. 2005
An information certificate system for rural laborers from northeast Heilongjiang Province is expected to be completed later this year.
http://china.org.cn/english/government/121134.htm

Rural issues - development
Rural Social Security System Vital to Nation's Development
China Daily, February 24, 2005
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has hammered out a plan for establishing a social security system in China's rural areas, according to the 21st Century Business Herald.
http://china.org.cn/english/China/121101.htm

Three Gorges
Chongqing focuses on Three Gorges diaspora
SCMP, February 25, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ3QEK985E.html

Thursday, February 24, 2005

February 24, 2005

Top news of the day

Detention – Wang Mingqing (王明清)
Shanghai Petitioner Wang Mingqing Detained
Human Rights in China, February 23, 2005
According to Human rights in China, a human rights group based in New York and Hong Kong, a Shanghai resident Wang Mingqing (王明清) was placed under administrative detention on February 16 for ‘causing trouble’. The detention is believed to be related to Wang’s persistent petitioning the Chinese authorities over the destruction of his home in an urban redevelopment project.
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/press?revision%5fid=
20519&item%5fid=20518

Hukou
Public Security Bureau plans to draft new household registration law, submission date for the draft yet to be set
公安部:我国将制定新户籍法 提审日期尚未确定
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
Deputy Chief of the Public Security Bureau said that the Bureau is preparing for drafting a new household registration law to address issues of accelerating labour mobility and inequality in the society; however, a time-table for submitting the draft has yet to be set.
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42735/3198817.html



News

Corruption
Mystifying budgets fuel graft, says magazine
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ5D3J985E.html

Public fund used in 80% of bribery cases
八成中国行贿者使用公款行贿
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824875.htm

Environment
China's southern boomtown must clean up its act, mayor admits
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 24, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&
ncid= 731&e=4&u=/afp/20050224/wl_asia_afp/chinabritainenvi
ronmentshenzhen

Chinese environmental groups support punishment for projects failing to meet standards
中国环保组织支持惩罚违建工程
Voice of America, February 23, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-23-voa48.cfm

3 major rivers heavily polluted
Xinhuanet.com, February 23, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/23/content_260907
1.htm

China Resettles Hundreds of Thousands from Dam Site
Reuters, Feb 24, 2005
China has resettled about three quarters of the more than 1 million people forced from their homes by the massive Three Gorges Dam project but now must find ways to employ them, officials said on Thursday.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/bceea51b024d9
be4/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Human rights
US human rights report on China to criticize China’s poor human rights record
讨论：美人权报告将再次指责中国人权状况
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824846.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
Schroeder confident EU will lift embargo
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZULM9585E.html

China Arms Embargo Not What It Seems
Associated Press Newswires, 24 February 2005
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D88F30F80.htm

Europe Wants China Sales But Not Just of Weapons
The New York Times, 24 February 2005
To some critics, Europe's plan to lift its arms embargo on China is simply a way to make sure its weapons makers claim a slice of one of the world's largest military budgets. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/24/international/europe/24
weapons.html

June 4th – Prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Funeral Committee of Zhao Ziyang urges the Communist Party to investigate criminal liabilities for ordering illegal detention of innocent citizens
来稿：敦请审查中共非法拘禁公民赵紫阳的法人犯罪问题
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 24, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_23_18_21_27_730.html

Lawyers speak about Lin Mu’s lawsuit against Xian Police over illegal detention
高智晟 刘军国律师谈林牧起诉西安公安局
Dajiyuan.com, February 24, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/24/n824831.htm

Labour – employment market
Featured article: labour rights protection is fundamental in revolving labour shortages
李强来稿：保障工人的权利才是解决“民工荒”的根本办法
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 24, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_23_19_18_26_97.html

Labour – industrial accidents (Fuxin case)
Safety chief faces probe after blast
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZILM9585E.html

Media - Internet
China restates view on international management of Internet
Xinhua News Agency, 24 February 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/25/content_26166
02.htm

Police
Public Security Bureau to announce regulations to prevent and correct prolong detention
公安部即将出台规定预防和纠正超期羁押
China Youth Daily, February 24, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/24/content_1036813.htm

Protests and petitions
Petitioners Dragged From Gates as China's Leaders Hold Social Justice Meeting
Radio Free Asia, February 23, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2005/02/23/china_petitioners/

Public health – HIV aids
Funding crunch threatens group helping Aids orphans
SCMP, February 24, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZQ3O9585E.html

UNICEF calls on China to treat AIDS as a general public health issue
Agence France Presse, 24 February 2005
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=526812

Rural issues – taxation
Tax burden remains on farmers despite agricultural tax scrapped
农业税取消后农民仍是纳税人
China Youth Daily, February 24, 2005
http://zqb.cyol.com/gb/zqb/2005-02/24/content_1036933.htm

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

February 23, 2005

Top news of the day

June 4th – prisoners – Zhao Ziyang
Zhao supporter to sue over 'abduction'
SCMP, February 23, 2005
Mainland dissident Lin Mu (林牧) is set to file a lawsuit against Xian state police for illegally detaining him after the death of former Party Secretary Zhao Ziyang.
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZL8K985E.html



June 4th – EU arms ban
Bush warns Europe not to lift arms embargo against China
SCMP, February 23, 2005
US President George Bush warned EU that the US congress might retaliate if EU lifts the arms embargo against China.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAQK9585E.html




News

Death penalty
Chief Judge says China would strictly limit giving death sentence
肖扬：中国严控死刑的适用 严格判处死刑的程序
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 22, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-22_542472.shtml

Education
University free if students go west
SCMP, February 23, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZJM8K985E.html

Environment
River pollution remains chronic
SCMP, February 23, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZAG0J985E.html

A Deadly Fever, Once Defeated, Lurks in a Chinese Lake
New York Times, February 22, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/22/international/asia/22
snail.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1109149485-8tQwkOB6OoCYY
QicYb9+Hg

Labour – industrial accidents
1 died and 13 injured in Guangdong firework workshop blast
广东茂名私炮作坊发生爆炸造成1人死亡13人受伤
EastDay.com, February 23, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node51109/userobject1ai884314.html

China acts over mining disaster
BBC, 2.23.2005
The vice-governor of China's Liaoning province has been suspended in connection with last week's mine disaster, in which 214 miners died. http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/6013bd4c7a0db6dc/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Law
Judicial interpretation facilitates equity and justice and enhances public understanding to law enforcement
公正公平、便民利民：中国2004年新司法解释解读
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 23, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-23_542720.shtml

Chinese Chief Justice on Human Rights Protection in Administration of Justice
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-23_542507.shtml

Law – legal profession
Why senior lawyers not keen to be judges?
热点追踪：资深律师缘何不热衷当法官
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3196441.html

Lawyers’ rights and responsibilities should be explicitly emphasized in the upcoming revision of the procedural laws
观点透视：律师权责在两法修订中要合理分布
People’s Daily, February 23, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3196431.html

Politics
Draft of gov't work report discussed at Politburo meeting
People’s Daily, February 22, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/22/eng20050222_174
292.html

Public Health
Clinton Hails China's AIDS Progress, Offers Help
Reuters, Feb 23,2005
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said Wednesday China has made progress in fighting AIDS since he last visited in 2003 and his foundation would give drugs and help train doctors battling the disease.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050223/pl_nm/aids_china_clinton_dc

WTO / rural issues
Chinese farmers are the victims of China’s access to the WTO, a World Bank report revealed
世界银行报告：中国农民成入世受害者
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 23, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-23_542720.shtml



Tuesday, February 22, 2005

February 22, 2005

News

Death penalty
Chengdu corrupt official sentenced to death for taking bribes totaling 14 million yuan
成都贪官索受贿1400余万一审判死刑
Dajiyuan.com, February 22, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/22/n820445.htm

Food security – food safety
China strengthens food quality supervision
Xinhuanet.com, February 22, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/22/content_2602
733.htm

Gender – abuse
Abused woman got a reprieve after convicted of murdering her husband
包头一妇女抗虐杀夫获刑3年缓刑5年
ChinaYouthOnline.com, February 21, 2005
http://news.cyol.com/gb/news/2005-02/21/content_1034965.htm

Gender – discrimination
25 married daughter in Gansu get back land right after 10 years of lawsuit
甘肃:25名“出嫁女” 10年讨回土地权
People’s Daily, February 18, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42734/43193/3186101.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
Chirac, Bush discuss China arms embargo
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZS8YI985E.html



Labour – industrial accidents (Fuxin Case)
Grief-stricken coal city's grim realities
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chifeatures/ZZZSKYJ985E.html

Labour - industrial accidents
Body of final missing miner found after deadly Chinese coal disaster
AP, February 22, 2005
The body of the last missing miner from a Feb. 14 coal mine explosion in northeast China has been found, bringing the death toll from the disaster to 214, the government said Tuesday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/cpress/2005
0222/ca_pr_on_wo/china_mine_explosions

The grim cost of China's 'economic miracle'
Telegraph, 20/02/2005
With the shock of the newly widowed, Xiao Zhang gabbles about school fees, rent and electricity bills and wonders aloud how she can pay them after yet another mining disaster in China.
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/
02/20/wchin20.xml

State fails to allocate safety funds as China mine toll rises to 214
AFP, February 22, 2005
The government announced a glaring 50 billion yuan (six billion dollar) shortfall in coal mine safety funding as the death toll from a disaster in northeastern China rose to 214, state press said.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/af415e67ee2e
266a/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/

Labour – union
Feasibility of forming trade union for rural migrant workers under study
中国政府研究建立农民工工会的可能性
Radio Free Asia, February 21, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/21/nongmingong/

Legal – legal aid
Voluntary legal aid seen to help poor
Xinhuanet.com, February 22, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/22/content_26023
79.htm

300,000 people benefited from legal aid last year
去年近30万人受益法律援助
BeijingNews.com, February 22, 2005
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005/0222/7@5100.html

Media – internet
Featured article from Wang Dan: bypassing internet blockage to get free access to political and news internet sites
王丹：绕过封锁，自由浏览境外时政网站
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 22, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/Opinion/2005_
2_21_19_41_57_55.html

“Cyber assembly” opens the window for democratic politics in China
“网友议政”打开民主议政的“窗口”
People’s Daily, February 22, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3192424.html

Politics
China relax control over democracy?
中共在民主上出现松动?
Voice of America, February 21, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-21-voa51.cfm

Public health
China sticks to its guns in clone wars
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZKZH9585E.html



Reform - CCP

China Targets Corrupt Officials In a Battle Against Temptation
Communist Party Has Vowed to Wipe Out Gambling in 2005
Washington Post, February 20, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38448-2005
Feb19.html?nav=rss_world

Rural issues – taxation
Zero agricultural tax burden realized amongst Guangdong farmers
广东农民税费实现零负担
Nanfang Daily, February 22, 2005
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/A01/2005
02220041.asp

WTO / economic development
WTO entry worth US$40b a year, study says
SCMP, February 22, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ52G9585E.html

Taiwan
China expresses "serious concern" over US-Japan statement on Taiwan
AFP, Feb 20, 2005
BEIJING (AFP) - Beijing expressed "serious concern" about a US and Japanese statement which described Taiwan as a common security issue amid China's military build-up.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/2005
0220/wl_asia_afp/usjapantalkstaiwanchina

Sunday, February 20, 2005

February 19-21, 2005

Top news of the day

Labour – industrial accidents (Fuxin case)
Families of coal mine tragedy victims excluded from compensation negotiation
孙家湾煤矿死难者家属无法参与赔偿讨论
Dajiyuan.com, February 19, 2005
Families of the victims in the Liaoning Fuxin coal mine tragedy are reported to be excluded from negotiation of compensation of losing their loved ones.
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/19/n817399.htm



News

Corruption
Corrupt officials use law loophole
SCMP, February 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ46C9585E.html

Party officials urged to observe anti-graft guidelines
Xinhuanet.com, February 20, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/20/content_2597
792.htm

Detention – Huang Jinqiu (黃金秋)
RSF voices out concerns over torture of Huang Jinqiu (黃金秋)in prison
记者无国界再次呼吁关注黄金秋遭虐待情况
Radio Free Asia, February 18, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/18/huanjinqiu/

Government – accountability and governance (rural)
Village reforms a dismal failure
SCMP, February 21, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZP5D9585E.html

Disaster – Xinjiang
Uyghurs Say Quake, Tent Shortage Has Forced Them To Live Outdoors
Radio Free Asia, February 18, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2005/02/18/uyghur_
quake/

Education
30 million students to get free study materials as China to establish national scholarship scheme
我国将建国家助学体系 3千万学生可获免费教材
EastDay.com, February 20, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node50710/userobject1ai876979.html

Environment
Most postponed projects given go-ahead
Xinhuanet.com, February 20, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/20/content_2595
499.htm

June 4th – EU arms ban
Lugar threat on EU arms sales to China
Financial Times, February 21, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4750f584-83ad-11d9-bee3-00000e
2511c8.html

Labour
China to create 9 mln jobs in 2005
People’s Daily, February 20, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/20/eng20050220_
174065.html

Labour - Industrial accidents (Fuxin case)
First victims cremated under tight security
SCMP, February 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZV2B9585E.html

Blast compensation starts as searching continues
Xinhuanet.com, February 21, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/21/content_259
8335.htm

Families of 130 mine tragedy victims sign compensation agreement
辽宁阜新矿难130名遇难者的家属与矿方签订赔偿协议
Radio Free Asia, February 19, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/19/peichang/

Wen ready to take blame for mine disaster
SCMP, February 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6ASI985E.html

Labour - Industrial accidents
Owner of illegal colliery arrested
SCMP, February 19, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZZ3C9585E.html

Media
Authorities explain new regulation on press cards highlighting 4 measures in identifying fake journalists
权威解读记者证：四道关口让假记者现形
Xinhuanet.com, February 20, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-02/20/content_
2595594.htm

Migrant workers
New employment policy to benefit 100 million rural migrant workers
劳动和社会保障部:就业新政策惠及1亿农民工
EastDay.com, February 19, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/no
de37979/node50630/userobject1ai876109.html

Society
China to become "developed country" in 2080
Xinhuanet.com, February 21, 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/21/content_259
8145.htm

Three Gorges
Three Gorges firm fined for flouting environment law
SCMP, February 21, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ4F2K985E.html

Hong Kong
Anti-WTO activists in HK to draw up war plan
SCMP, February 21, 2005
http://www.scmp.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentSer
ver?pagename=SCMP/Printacopy&aid=ZZZOE2K985E

Friday, February 18, 2005

February 18, 2005

Top news of the day

Law – legal reform
Issues highlighted on top reform priority as China speeds up legal reform efforts in 2005
中国司法改革在提速 力度加大亮点频现
Xinhuanet.com, February 18, 2005
China speeds up efforts in advancing legal reform in 2005, in which legal appeal mechanism, jury system and judicial committee appeared to be given top priority for the upcoming reform.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-02/18/content_25
89511.htm


News

Children – abuse (trafficking)
Crackdown on baby trafficking gang in Inner Mongolia
贩卖76名婴幼儿　内蒙古20名主犯被移送起诉
Nanfang Daily, February 18, 2005
Inner Mongolian police cracked down of a Hohhot-based baby trafficking group which had sold over 76 babies since 1988. 20 major suspects were arrested.
http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/southnews/dd/nfrb/A06/2005
02180140.asp

Corruption
Cadres held over 60m yuan mega-university scandal
SCMP, February 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZ9U79585E.html

Food security – GM food
China planning large-scale introduction of genetically-engineered rice
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 17, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/2005
0217/wl_asia_afp/chinafoodagriculturegmo

June 4th – EU arms ban
US, Europe Differ on China Arms Embargo
Voice of America, February 17, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-02-17-voa68.cfm

Labour – Industrial accidents (Liaoning Fuxin case)
Death toll in China mine blast rises to 212
AFP via YahooNews.com, February 18, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/2005
0218/wl_asia_afp/chinamineblasttoll

Grief-stricken coal city's grim realities
SCMP, February 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZIM89585E.html

Labour activist blames low compensation for poor safety record
SCMP, February 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZIWOI985E.html

NE gas blast rings bell for greater awareness of coal mine safety
Xinhua News Agency, 18 February 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/19/content_2592934.htm

Military - modernization
China's Military Moves Worry Lawmakers
Associated Press, 2.18.2005
President Bush's plan for the Navy calls for buying fewer ships, while China, a potential security hot spot, is increasing and repositioning its fleet. It's a prospect that concerns some lawmakers.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050218/ap_on_go_co/us_china

Rumsfeld Warns of Concern About Expansion of China's Navy
The New York Times, 18 February 2005
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday that the Pentagon was closely monitoring the growth of China's navy as part of that country's overall military buildup.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/18/politics/18military.html

China assails CIA report on weapons buildup
Reuters, February 18, 2005
China issued a denunciation Thursday of a U.S. assessment that its weapons buildup is tilting the balance of power in the Taiwan Straits, and it said the comments sent the wrong signal to Taiwan, the self-governing island Beijing claims as its own.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/17/news/beijing.html

Protests and petitions
Interpretation of the new Regulation on Petition: moving towards a law-based system
信访走向法治化———新的《信访条例》解析
People’s Daily, February 17, 2005
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/30178/3182048.html

Public health
Newlyweds slow to use free check-ups
SCMP, February 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZEM89585E.html

Health reforms 'crucial to erasing poverty'
SCMP, February 18, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZTVOI985E.html

China reports no large-scope breakouts of infectious diseases last year
Xinhua News Agency, 18 February 2005
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/18/content_2592625.htm

Public health – HIV aids
Henan plans to include information on aids prevention into school syllabus
河南欲将艾滋病防治知识纳入学校教学计划
YouthNet.com, February 17, 2005
http://china.ynet.com/view.jsp?oid=4697837

Reforms - population control
As Girls 'Vanish,' Chinese City Battles Tide of Abortions
NYT, February 17, 2005
The warning hanging above a main street could not have been
more blunt, its big white characters set off against a bright red banner
promising to "firmly crack down on the criminal activity of drowning and other
ways of brutally killing female babies."
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/tnt.html?tntget=2005/02/17/international/asia/17china.html&tntemail0

Religion
Chinese Christian recounts ordeal, calls for end to religious persecution
Axcess News via China Digital News.com, February 15, 2005
http://www.axcessnews.com/national_021505c.shtml

Reins tight on religious affairs
The Standard, February 18, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Focus/GB18Dh01.html

Inner Mongolia
In Inner Mongolia, Tribe Resists Bid To Turn Shrine Into a Theme Park
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/social/2005/02/17/china_
mongolian/

Society
Middle class society? It's still a long way off in China
China Daily, February 18, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/18/content_
417241.htm

Hong Kong – one-county-two systems
"One Country, Two Systems" becomes successful reality in HK: justice chief
People’s Daily, February 18, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/18/eng20050218_
173878.html

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

February 17, 2005

News

Corruption
Premier Wen urges intensified efforts to prevent corruption
Xinhuanet.com, February 17, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/17/eng20050217_173
765.html

Gender
Self-help group for Chinese mothers launched in Beijing
中国母亲援助行动在京启动
Legal Daily, February 17, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-02/17/content_1873
75.htm

Gender – law
Law not protects sexual offences of the same sex
男子遭同性性侵犯 施暴者无法被追究刑事责任
People’s Daily, February 17, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42732/3182611.html

Environment
Watchdog clears the way for power plant construction to restart
SCMP, February 17, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6L49585E.html

Beijing likely to face more pressure to cut emissions
SCMP, February 17, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZBA59585E.html

Labour - Industrial accidents (Liaoning Fuxin case)
Little hope for missing pitmen
SCMP, February 17, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZI859585E.html

Labour – industrial accidents
Five die, 17 missing in Yunnan mine
SCMP, February 17, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZO859585E.html

Law – legal profession
10 major trends of the development of China’s lawyer industry
北京律师：未来十大发展趋势
Legal Daily, February 17, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-02/17/content_187
371.htm

Media
New regulations on press cards to be effective on March 1
Xinhuanet.com, February 17, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/17/eng20050217_
173766.html

Public health
Infectious diseases kill 382 on mainland
Xinhaunet.com, February 16, 2005
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200502/16/eng20050216_
173733.html

Public health – HIV aids
Aids prevention the key in Henan and school fee exemption for aids patients’ children
河南今年防艾重点确定 艾滋病病人子女免收学费
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 17, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-17_540458.shtml

Legal protection to equal opportunities in employment – learning from international labour standard and Canadian legislation
艾滋病人就业的法律保护———国际劳工标准和加拿大立法借鉴
Legal Daily, February 17, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-02/17/content_1873
69.htm

Hong Kong – political party
Revamped DAB may find role as kingmaker
The Standard, February 17, 2005
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GB17Ak0
1.html

Taiwan
Handling of Mainland Dissidents Ties Taiwan in Knots; Pro-democracy activists were jailed upon arrival. Officials point to the...
Los Angeles Times, 17 February 2005
Taiwan is having trouble figuring out just what to do with two Chinese dissidents who sought refuge here after years of repression on the mainland.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-dissident
s17feb17,1,3021905.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=3&cset
=true

China military buildup threatens US forces: CIA chief
AFP, Feb 16, 2005
China's military buildup could tilt the strategic balance with Taiwan and also threaten US forces in Asia, CIA director Porter Goss warned.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050216/wl_asia_afp/usintelligencechina

China assails CIA report on weapons buildup
Reuters, February 18, 2005
China issued a denunciation Thursday of a U.S. assessment that its weapons buildup is tilting the balance of power in the Taiwan Straits, and it said the comments sent the wrong signal to Taiwan, the self-governing island Beijing claims as its own.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/17/news/beijing.html

February 16, 2005

Top news of the day

Media – press freedom / industrial accident (Fuxin blast)
Reporters discouraged from reporting Fuxin coal mine tragedy
辽宁煤矿灾变灾情惨 记者称当局封锁新闻
Dajiyuan.com, February 16, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/15/n813162.htm


News

Children - adoption
Chinese parents challenge 'biased' US custody ruling
SCMP, February 16, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZSD29585E.html

Corruption
415 corrupt party officials published in 2004, 15 in high-ranking positions
去年15名省(部)级415名厅级干部受党纪政纪处分
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 16, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/cna_2005_02_16_00_38_02_848.html

More than 150,000 corrupt Communist Party members disciplined in 2004
ASSOCIATED PRESS, February 16, 2005
China’s Communist Party disciplined more than 150,000 corrupt party members in 2004 and uncovered more than US$300 million (HK$2.34 billion) in misused public funds, the government said on Wednesday.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ6839585E.html

Detention – Zhang Lin (張林)
RSF urges China to release freelance writer Zhang Lin (張林)
记者无国界呼吁中国立即释放张林
Radio Free Asia, February 15, 2005
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/xinwen/2005/02/15/zhanglin/

Disaster / Xinjiang
Xinjiang hit by quake but gets off lightly
SCMP, February 16, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZKD29585E.html

Education
Education Bureau sacks 30,000 unqualified staff last year
全国各级教育部门去年调离辞退近3万不合格人员
EastDay.com, February 16, 2005
http://china.eastday.com/eastday/news/node37955/node37957/
node37979/node50198/userobject1ai866153.html

Hong Kong - rights
Hong Kong labours over minimum wage debate: High unemployment has prompted the city's legislators to review legal protections for low-paid workers
Financial Times, 15 February 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e575fb4a-7ef5-11d9-9c86-00000e2511c8.html

June 4th – EU arms ban
France pushes case to lift China arms embargo despite US fears: minister
AFP via YahooNew.com, February 16, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050216/wl_
afp/euchinaarmsembargofranceus_050216064317

US lobbying may limit future EU arms sales
SCMP, February 16, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZ24RJ985E.html

Land policy
Researcher says privatization of land the key to resolve existing rural issues
中国国情研究中心主任蒯辙：中国土地私有化解决三农问题
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 16, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SocDigest/Econo
my/2005_2_15_20_21_36_975.html

Labour – industrial accidents
China accounts for 80pc of coal-mine deaths
SCMP, February 16, 2005
State Administration of Work Safety figures show China accounts for some 80 per cent of the world’s coal mining deaths — despite producing just 35 per cent of the world's coal.
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZX439585E.html

China Mine Blast Kills 209; Six Missing
AP via YahooNew.com, February 16, 2005
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=73
1&e=10&u=/ap/20050216/ap_on_re_as/china_mine_explosion


Smouldering fire hinders investigation in Shaanxi
SCMP, February 16, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chitoday/ZZZI5RJ985E.html

Law – legal profession
7 major imbalances of the lawyer industry
律师职业存在七大不平衡
Legal Daily, February 16, 2005
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/bm/2005-02/16/content_1869
80.htm

Law – legal reform
A key issue of legal reform 2005: jurors and judges – balance of power in court
陪审员与法官同权 中国司法改革2005年亮点频现
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 16, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/zxs_2005-02-16_540009.shtml

Media - regulations
China announces new regulations on press cards
Xinhua News Agency, 16 February 2005
by Quan Xiaoshu BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's new media regulations, concerning the press cards, will go into effect on March 1, the General Administration of Press and Publication, the country's press watchdog, said here Wednesday. ...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/16/content_2585201.htm

Police – administrative detention (Alex Ho 何偉途)
Case against Alex Ho 'clear enough'
SCMP, February 16, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZKPII985E.html

Politics – NPC
NPC meetings not more than 10 days despite many controversial issues to discuss
「兩會」會期不超過10天
WenWeiPo, February 16, 2005
http://www.wenweipo.com/news.phtml?news_id=CH05021600
20&cat=002CH

Public health – HIV aids
Shanxi Aids patients form self-help community
山西建艾滋病人生产自救区
BeijingNews.com, February 16, 2005
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/2005-2-16/9@0838.html

China releases infectious disease data
Big News Network, 16th February, 2005 (UPI)
China's Ministry of Health said Wednesday that 382 people had died nationwide of infectious diseases during January 2005.
http://story.chinanationalnews.com/p.x/ct/9/id/40bc78bea5159d10/cid/9366300fc9319e9b/
Rural issues - poverty
SCHOLARS IN FIGHT TO HELP THE POOR GET RICHER
China Daily, 16 February 2005
Tax dodgers beware the government could be on to you soon. Chinese researchers are urging officials to crack down on those who collect the spoils of the economic boom but give nothing back to society in return.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/16/content_416654.htm

Tibet
The controversy over China’s increasing investment in Tibet (part I)
中国扩大对西藏投资惹争议(1)
Voice of America, February 15, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-15-voa70.cfm

Hong Kong – election
Referendum in HK feasible but should proceed with caution, says Hong Kong scholar
香港学者：举行全民投票可行但宜小心运作
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 16, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Mainl
and/cna_2005_02_16_00_38_02_848.html

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

February, 15, 2005

Top news of the day

Labour - Industrial accidents
China Mine Accident Kills More Than 200
Reuters via YahooNew.com, February 15, 2005
The death toll of a worse ever gas explosion in a coal mine in China’s northeastern province of Liaoning has risen to 203 since the tragedy occurred on Monday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=
731&e=3&u=/nm/20050215/wl_nm/china_mine_dc

News

Education / poverty
Serious gap in higher education opportunities
ChinaDaily.com, February 14, 2005
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-02/14/content
_416474.htm

Government – governance and accountability
New auditing law expects to make public this year
新審計法有望年內出台
WenWeiPo.com, February 15, 2005
http://www.wenweipo.com/news.phtml?news_id=CH0502150016
&cat=002CH

Law – legal profession
Featured article: Supreme Court to launch investigations against judges involved in 7 types of power abuse activities
特稿：中国最高法院将严查七类法官
Chinesenewsnet.com, February 15, 2005
http://www1.chinesenewsnet.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Main
land/2005_2_14_18_58_53_576.html

Law – judicial system
Excerpted article: loopholes of the administration mechanism of Judicial Committee
北京青年报：审判委员会行政化弊端重重
People's Daily, February 14, 2005
http://legal.people.com.cn/GB/42731/3178457.html

Media - internet
China steps up efforts in closing internet cafes
中国加紧关闭网吧
Dajiyuan.com, February 15, 2005
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/5/2/15/n812407.htm

Natural resources – Water
Guangdong only has enough water for half its needs
SCMP, February 15, 2005
http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZIL8AHJ3E.html

Rural issues – rural development
Commentary to China’s latest agricultural policy
评析中国新农业政策
Voice of America, February 15, 2005
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/w2005-02-14-voa79.cfm

Hong Kong
Youngsters plan to set up their own NGO
SCMP, February 15, 2005
http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZYX2EHJ3E.html
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