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, May 24, 2016

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

【張德江訪港】張德江訪港帶來的破壞(文:潘小濤) ([ZDJ’s visit to HK] The damages brought by Zhang Dejiang’s visit to Hong Kong)
Ming Pao, May 24, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160524/s00022/1464055672356

【張德江訪港】漫談張德江訪港(文:呂秉權) ([ZDJ’s visit to HK] Discursive talk on Zhang Dejiang’s visit to Hong Kong)
Ming Pao, May 24, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160524/s00022/1464055163904

Monday, May 23, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

哈佛研究稱「五毛」年發5億留言影響輿論 環時駁斥「一知半解」 (Harvard study finds “Wumaos” post 500 million comments yearly to impact public opinion, Global Times rebuts: superficial knowledge)
Ming Pao, May 21, 2106
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160521/s00004/1463802049903

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

NGOs take chemical factories to court
China Daily, May 23, 2016
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-05/23/content_25426849.htm

Chinese press freedom activist on hunger strike for two weeks, says family
South China Morning Post, May 23, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1951569/chinese-press-freedom-activist-hunger-strike-two-weeks

Related:
声援郭飞雄接力绝食抗议已20天,200多人参加 (Hunger strike relay to support Guo Feixiong into 20 days, over 200 participants)
Voice of America, May 23, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-feixiong-guo-protest-20160522/3341187.html

Guo Feixiong on day 11 of hunger strike in prison, wife asks president Xi Jinping to intervene
Human Rights in China, May 19, 2016
http://www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/case-update/guo-feixiong-day-11-hunger-strike-prison-wife-asks-president-xi-jinping

Chinese protests over university quotas spread to third province
South China Morning Post, May 23, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1951077/chinese-protests-over-university-quotas-spread-third-province

Chinese blogger detained over Buddhist temples "smear"
South China Morning Post, May 23, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1951038/chinese-blogger-detained-over-buddhist-temples-smear

北京自由派学者例行聚餐因六四临近被阻挠 (Beijing liberal scholars’ regular gathering meal obstructed in the run up to June Fourth)
Voice of China, May 23, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/beijing-dissident-20160523/3341838.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Tsai shows no goodwill on cross-Strait ties: mainland scholar
Xinhua, May23, 2016
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-05/23/content_25428423.htm

Related:
Minitrue: Adopt unified approach on Taiwan inauguration
China Digital Times, May 23, 2016
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/05/taiwan-president-takes-cautious-line-china/

维护两岸关系和平发展的关键在于坚持“九二共识”政治基础 (The key to maintaining cross-strait peace lies in upholding political foundation of the 1992 consensus)
Xinhua, May 21, 2016
http://news.dayoo.com/china/201605/21/139997_47434217.htm

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong government pours cold water on call for a human rights commission
South China Morning Post, May 21, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1949919/hong-kong-government-pours-cold-water-call-human

HK-mainland trade drops in Q1
Xinhua, May 21, 2016
http://english.sina.com/news/2016-05-21/doc-ifxsktvr1038622.shtml

Hong Kong’s student leaders to miss Tiananmen Square vigil for first time after split with organisers
South China Morning Post, May 23, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1951566/hong-kongs-student-leaders-miss-tiananmen-square-vigil-first

Lights out for controversial 2047 “Countdown Machine” art installation on Hong Kong’s ICC building
港艺发局叫停ICC倒数机 创作人质疑高层权力人士介入
South China Morning Post, May 23, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1951495/lights-out-controversial-2047-countdown-machine
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/hk-macau-tw/154dcf48b8c00b8/gang-yi-fa-ju-jiao-ting-icc-dao-shu-ji-chuang-zuo-ren-zhi-yi-gao-ceng-quan-li-ren-shi-jie-ru

泛民批评京官处理港独枪炮论武力恐吓 (Pan-dems denounce Beijing official’s talk of military treatment to Hong Kong’s independence advocacies as threats of violence)
Voice of America, May 22, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/hk-independence-20160522/3340837.html

Related:
Beijing will use law and public opinion to handle Hong Kong independence issue, not guns, insists prominent lawyer
South China Morning Post, May 22, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1950931/beijing-will-use-law-and-public-opinion-handle-hong-kong

Why people in Hong Kong scoff at China’s grandiose Belt and Road plans
South China Morning Post, May 22, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/business/global-economy/article/1950407/why-people-hong-kong-scoff-chinas-grandiose-belt-and-road

“六四”27周年前夕 港支联会举办民主风筝行动 (In the run up to the 27th anniversary of June Fourth, Hong Kong Alliance organizes kite flying activity for democracy)
Radio Free Asia, May 22, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl2-05222016113339.html

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

Chinese military mulls new policies to seek educated recruits
Xinhua, May 23, 2016
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-05/23/content_25428424.htm

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Long may our judicial system remain independent
South China Morning Post, May 22, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1950997/long-may-our-judicial-system-remain-independent

【蔡英文就職】蔡英文給香港的信(文:曾偉強) ([Tsai Ing-wen’s inauguration] Tsai Ing-wen’s letter to Hong Kong)
Ming Pao, May 22, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160522/s00022/1463893793929

Friday, May 20, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Uyghur teenager convicted of plotting to leave China, join separatist group gets 20 years
Radio Free Asia, May 19, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/uyghur-tenager-convicted-05192016151457.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Taiwan swears in first female president as hostile Beijing looks on
Agence France Presse, May 20, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/20/taiwan-swears-in-tsai-ing-wen-as-first-female-president-as-hostile-beijing-looks-on/

Related:
Taiwan's new president Tsai Ing-wen vows to reduce dependence on Beijing
The Guardian, May 20, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/20/taiwans-new-president-tsai-ing-wen-vows-to-reduce-dependence-on-beijing

Beijing expresses dissatisfaction after Taiwan’s new President Tsai Ing-wen swaps “consensus”for “historic fact”
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1948433/beijing-expresses-dissatisfaction-after-taiwans-new

Poor mainland ties will hurt Taiwan
Global TImes, May 20, 2106
http://english.sina.com/china/d/2016-05-20/doc-ifxsktkp9026037.shtml

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

《国家网络安全宣传周活动方案》发布 (Release of “program of national cybersecurity promotion week”)
People’s Daily, May 20, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0520/c1001-28364682.html

Hong Kong (香港)

Demosistō activists released on HK$500 bail after attempting to block Chinese official’s motorcade
Hong Kong Free Press, May 20, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/20/joshua-wong-and-demosisto-activists-released-on-bail-after-attempting-to-block-chinese-official-zhangs-motorcade/

Everyone will have to “foot the bill” if Hong Kong becomes chaotic, warns Zhang Dejiang
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1947240/everyone-will-have-foot-bill-if-hong-kong-becomes-chaotic

香港支联会向张德江发公开信要求平反六四 (Hong Kong Alliance sends open letter to Zhang Dejiang demanding to rehabilitate June Fourth)
Radio Free Asia, May 19, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/xl1-05192016103533.html

Chinese official condemns calls for greater autonomy in Hong Kong
The New York Times, May 19, 2016
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/world/asia/hong-kong-independence-zhang-dejiang.html?_r=0

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

Hong Kong must find the courage to restart electoral reform dialogue
South China Morning Post, May 20, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1947229/hong-kong-must-find-courage-restart-electoral-reform

張德江到訪三日,香港倒退六十年 (Zhang Dejiang’s 3-day visit drives Hong Kong 60 years backwards)
InMedia HK, May 19, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1042441

張德江「看、聽、講」了什麼? (What did Zhang Dejiang “see, listen, and talk”?)
InMedia HK, May 19, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/10424429

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Activists’ arrest and whereabouts confirmed after forced disappearance for seven months
China Change, May 18, 2016
https://chinachange.org/2016/05/18/activists-arrest-and-whereabouts-confirmed-after-forced-disappearance-for-seven-months/

Six months on, no sign of repatriated Chinese political refugees
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/six-months-on-no-sign-of-repatriated-chinese-political-refugees-05182016111406.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

中国官媒脸书赞数超越CNN与纽约时报 (Chinese state media Facebook pages got more likes than CNN and The New York Times)
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 18, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/05/160518_china_state_media_facebook

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

China’s Feminist Five unbowed a year after detention, says activist in Hong Kong for forum
South China Morning Post, May 18, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/1947133/chinas-feminist-five-unbowed-year-after-detention-says-activist-hong-kong

Chinese gay couple marry despite court ruling
Deutsche Welle, May 17, 2016
http://www.dw.com/en/chinese-gay-couple-marry-despite-court-ruling/a-19263412

China holds six pollution, land protesters in Inner Mongolia
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/holds-05182016104331.html

Detained Tibetan monk had photo taken with banned national flag
Radio Free Asia, May 18, 2016
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/photo-05182016154024.html

敢言中国作家铁流失联多日 (Outspoken Chinese writer Tie Liu incommunicado for days)
Voice of America, May 19, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-writer-missing-from-house-arrest-20160519/3336774.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Video: Chinese ambassador to UK tells Tibetans their cause is “doomed” and will “never succeed”
Hong Kong Free Press, May 19, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/19/video-chinese-ambassador-uk-tells-tibetans-cause-doomed-will-never-succeed/

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Securing cyberspace: China leading the way in cyber sovereignty
The Diplomat, May 18, 2016
http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/securing-cyberspace-china-leading-the-way-in-cyber-sovereignty/

China finds its global ambitions humbled in its own backyard
中国势力难服港台人心
The New York Times, May 19, 2016
EN: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/world/asia/hong-kong-taiwan-china-zhang-dejiang.html
CH: http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20160519/c19china/

You won’t lose your identity: Zhang Dejiang assures Hong Kong it will not be absorbed by mainland China
South China Morning Post, May 18, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1947170/you-wont-lose-your-identity-zhang-dejiang-assures-hong-kong

Related:
人权观察:香港高官应为人权和自治发声 (Human Rights Watch: Hong Kong top officials should voice defense for human rights and autonomy)
Voice of America, May 18, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/voa-news-human-rights-watch-statement-hk-20160518/3335610.html

张德江“史无前例”会见香港泛民议员 (Zhang Dejiang “unprecedentedly” meets Hong Kong pan-dem lawmakers)
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 19, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/05/160519_china_zhangdejiang_hk_politics

【張德江訪港】劉慧卿:會面氣氛「禮貌客氣」 張無回應李波事件 ([ZDJ visiting HK] Pan-dem Emily Lau: Atmosphere of conference “polite and courteous,” Zhang did not respond on Lee Bo case)
Ming Pao, May 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160519/s00001/1463621096667

【張德江訪港】梁家傑指會面歷史突破 鍾國斌批梁振英 張德江臉色一沉 ([ZDJ visiting HK] Pan-dem Alan Leong said meeting was a breakthrough, Zhang’s face darkened when Felix Chung criticized CY Leung)
Ming Pao, May 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160519/s00001/1463621945418

Video: Artists program huge “2047 countdown” on ICC building during China official’s visit
Hong Kong Free Press, May 18, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/05/18/hong-kong-artists-programme-huge-2047-countdown-on-icc-building-during-zhang-dejiang/

The subtle change in language that proves Beijing no longer respects Hong Kong’s special status
Quartz, May 18, 2016
http://qz.com/686805/the-subtle-change-in-language-that-proves-beijing-no-longer-respects-hong-kongs-special-status/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

【文革五十年】文革在某種意義上說,它並沒有結束(文:胡發雲) ([50th anniversary of Cultural Revolution] In a sense, the Cultural Revolution did not end)
Ming Pao, May 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160519/s00022/1463640365462

不要忘記香港發生的文革 (Don’t forget the Cultural Revolution that happened in Hong Kong)
InMedia HK, May 19, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1042428

【文革五十年】文革啟示錄(文:蔡子強) ([50th anniversary of Cultural Revolution] Commentator Ivan Choy: Revelations of the Cultural Revolution)
Ming Pao, May 19, 2016
http://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20160519/s00022/1463621348202

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Access to Justice (司法公正)

涉马来西亚电信诈骗案32名台湾嫌犯均已认罪 , 大陆要求台方采取强力措施追查“金主”追赃返赃 (32 criminal suspects in Malaysian telecommunications fraud case plead guilty, mainland requests that Taiwan take strong measures to locate sponsors of criminal conduct so that stolen funds may be returned)
Legal Daily, May 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160516/Articel01008GN.htm

新疆去年抓获千余经济嫌疑人 (Last year Xinjiang seized 1000 suspects for economic crimes)
Legal Daily, May 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160516/Articel03006GN.htm

云南去年破经济犯罪案5904起 (Last year Yunnan solved 5,904 cases of economic crimes)
Legal Daily, May 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160516/Articel03007GN.htm

西藏多部门宣传打击经济犯罪 (Numerous departments in Tibet announce a crackdown on economic crimes)
Legal Daily, May 16, 2016
http://epaper.legaldaily.com.cn/fzrb/content/20160516/Articel03008GN.htm

Family of activist who died in police custody files complaint alleging abuse
South China Morning Post, May 17, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/1946178/family-activist-who-died-police-custody-files-complaint-alleging