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.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

撞斷九江大橋 船長出獄查「空心橋墩」 (Ex-convict captain investigates “hollow bridge pier” after his ship slammed into bridge in Jiangxi and killed 8)
Mingpao, December 14, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20171214/s00013/1513188343264

English transcript of video featuring activist Zhen Jianghua
i-CABLE News, December 13, 2017
https://www.nchrd.org/2017/12/19545/

Government Accountability (政府问责)

携程亲子园事件5名工作人员被批捕 (Five kindergarten staffers in Shanghai under arrested after child abuse scandal)
Beijing News, December 13, 2017
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2017/12/13/468422.html

保定一纸厂发生燃爆事故致4死 公司负责人已被警方控制 (Owner of paper mill detained by police after fire and explosion killed 4 in Hebei)
Beijing News, December 13, 2017
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2017/12/13/468427.html

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

人权组织批评新疆强行收集居民生物信息 (Human rights organisation criticizes Xinjiang for forcefully collecting biological data from residents)
Reuters, December 13, 2017
http://bit.ly/2C4wdxE

Hong Kong (香港)

Showdown in LegCo over changes to its rule book: What’s fuelling the continuing clash?
South China Morning Post, December 14, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2124207/showdown-legco-over-changes-its-rule-book-whats-fuelling

Related:
學者發起聯署 反對修改議事規則 「社會將付上代價」 (Scholars launch signature campaign in protest against LegCo rules changes, warning “society will pay”)
Inmediahk, December 13, 2017
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1053889/

Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki among ten disqualified from running for China legislature seats
Hong Kong Free Press, December 14, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/12/14/civic-party-lawmaker-kwok-ka-ki-among-ten-disqualified-running-china-legislature-seats/

Related:
港區人大選舉確認49人為候選人 郭家麒斥假選舉 (49 confirmed as candidates for NPC Hong Kong election, and pro-democracy lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki calls it fake)
Radio Television Hong Kong, December 13, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1369897-20171213.htm

Hong Kong to pay HK$2.36 billion share of mega bridge project’s HK$11.7 billion cost overrun
South China Morning Post, December 14, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2124232/hong-kong-pay-hk236-billion-share-mega-bridge-projects-hk117/

入境處下周一起擴展旅客自助離境服務 櫃位增設鏡頭識別容貌 (Immigration to add face-detection counters at borders next week)
Mingpao, December 14, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171214/s00001/1513232374693

Candidate for Hong Kong University vice-chancellor position urged to reveal stance on academic freedom
Hong Kong Free Press, December 13, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/12/13/candidate-hong-kong-university-vice-chancellor-position-urged-reveal-stance-academic-freedom/

Commentary (评论)

Does Xi Jinping Thought really matter?
The Diplomat, December 14, 2017
https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/does-xi-jinping-thought-really-matter/

China’s stealthy holiday crackdowns
The Diplomat, December 14, 2017
https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/chinas-stealthy-holiday-crackdowns/

Record number of journalists jailed as Turkey, China, Egypt pay scant price for repression
Committee to Protect Journalists, December 13, 2017
https://cpj.org/reports/2017/12/journalists-prison-jail-record-number-turkey-china-egypt.php

China’s film industry: Blocked by its own Great Wall
China Film Insider, December 13, 2017
http://chinafilminsider.com/chinas-film-industry-blocked-by-its-own-great-wall/

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Uyghur woman dies of condition left untreated in Chinese police detention
Radio Free Asia, December 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/death-12122017164350.html

长期为民发声 湖北网络大V罗兰青被抓 (Luo Lanqing, Key Opinion Leader in Hubei, allegedly arrested for advocating for public)
Radio Free Asia, December 12, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-12122017101416.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

Chinese authorities collecting DNA from all residents of Xinjiang
The Guardian, December 13, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/13/chinese-authorities-collecting-dna-residents-xinjiang

China displays clout at Internet conference but some doubts remain
Voice of America, December 12, 2017
https://www.voanews.com/a/china-internet-conference-brings-tech-companies-together/4160056.html

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

北京新建村5名护送华涌的村民被抓捕 华涌吁关注救援 (5 villagers in Beijing outskirts arrested for protecting artist Hua Chong from police)
Weiquanwang, December 12, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2017/12/5.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Chinese province admits homes left freezing after overzealous coal ban
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2124104/chinese-province-admits-homes-left-freezing-after

Fire in southern Beijing kills five, weeks after government launches safety hazards campaign
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2124105/fire-southern-beijing-kills-five-weeks-after-government-launches

Related:
Government edicts do nothing to prevent fire danger in China’s workplaces
China Labor Bulletin, December 12, 2017
http://www.clb.org.hk/content/government-edicts-do-nothing-prevent-fire-danger-china%E2%80%99s-workplaces

教育部清理令时限已过,常州大学官网仍有上千人身份证被泄露 (Changzhou University continues to leak students’ ID information online after deadline set by education ministry)
The Paper, December 12, 2017
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1902245

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Google宣布中國成立AI中心 (Google announces establishment of AI center in China)
Mingpao, December 13, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171213/s00002/1513139161826

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

China denies using LinkedIn to recruit German informants
中國否認利用社群媒體滲透德國政界
The New York Times, December 12, 2017
EN: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20171212/china-germany-linkedin/en-us/
CH: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20171212/china-germany-linkedin/zh-hant/

Hong Kong (香港)

Nine Hong Kong democracy activists banned from contesting seats in China’s legislature
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2124153/nine-hong-kong-democracy-activists-banned-contesting-seats

Democrats use their last chance to form two investigative committees before rules change
Hong Kong Free Press, December 13, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/12/13/democrats-use-last-chance-form-two-investigative-committees-rules-change/

Related:
南京大屠殺類比拉布 工聯會郭偉強:把握千載難逢機會修改 (Lawmaker from HKFTU compares filibuster to Nanking Massacre and says changing LegCo rules is chance of lifetime)
Inmediahk, December 13, 2017
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1053875a

《星島》專欄:中聯辦擬搞首個公眾開放日 (Liaison Office to hold first Open Day)
Sing Tao Daily, December 13, 2017
http://hd.stheadline.com/news/realtime/hk/1088057/

US professor Zhang Xiang set to be confirmed as next University of Hong Kong vice-chancellor
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2124095/us-professor-zhang-xiang-set-be-confirmed-next-university

Commentary (评论)

Under red China, democracy is dead in Hong Kong
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2124100/under-red-china-democracy-dead-hong-kong

人民記得你…… (People will remember you……)
Mingpao, December 13, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171213/s00022/1513082492100

#MeToo and Vera Lui show why Hong Kong needs better sex education classes
South China Morning Post, December 13, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2123968/metoo-and-vera-lui-show-why-hong-kong-needs-better-sex

China’s chilling “social credit” blacklist
The Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2017
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-chilling-social-credit-blacklist-1513036054

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

年终特稿: 709人权律师案盘点 19大后有转机? (Will things turn for better after 19th party congress for “709” human rights lawyers?)
Voice of America, December 12, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/human-right-20171211/4159445.html

Related:
李昱函代理律师李柏光、蔺其磊就被其被刑讯逼供、狱中虐待提起控告 (Defense counsels of lawyer Li Yuhan sue detention center and police officers for torture and abuse)
Weiquanwang, December 11, 2017
http://wqw2010.blogspot.hk/2017/12/blog-post_66.html

張先玲:丈夫生前指解決六四事件路漫長 叮囑注意身體 (Zhang Xianling, Tiananmen Mothers activist, says late husband asked her to stay in good health as vindicating June Fourth will take years)
Radio Television Hong Kong, December 12, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1369602-20171212.htm

透明度不足影响问责赔偿 8律师携手为肺结核学生维权 (8 lawyers join force to represent Hunan students who contracted TB, demanding transparency, accountability, and compensation)
Radio Free Asia, December 11, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/gf1-12112017100646.html

Access to Information (信息公开)

年终报道:中国过去一年严厉封杀维权网站及网言 (China cracks down on right-defending website and speech on Internet during past year)
Voice of America, December 11, 2017
https://www.voachinese.com/a/China-human-rights-situation-worsened-20171211/4158239.html

澳門倡電話卡實名制 網絡安全法今起公開諮詢 (Macau presses for SIM card real-name identification and solicits opinion on cybersecurity law)
Stand News, December 11, 2017
http://bit.ly/2jP61QQ

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

“南方傻瓜”甄江华:黑暗中行走的抗争者 (Zhen Jianghua, defier who walks in dark)
The Initium, December 12, 2017
https://theinitium.com/article/20171212-mainland-zhenjianghua/

The app that’s naming and shaming China’s polluters
Bloomberg, December 12, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2123959/app-thats-naming-and-shaming-chinas-polluters

Hundreds take part in rare protest in Beijing over migrant crackdown
The Guardian, December 11, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/11/hundreds-take-part-rare-protest-beijing-migrant-crackdown

广东顺德村民逆风维权 当局夜半抓人 (Villagers in Guangdong defend land rights and get arrested by police at night)
Radio Free Asia, December 11, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/yf2-12112017100549.html

安徽南陵数百教师请愿 警喷射辣椒水驱散 (Hundreds of teachers in Anhui petition for better wages and get pepper-sprayed by police)
Radio Free Asia, December 11, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-12112017100326.html

内蒙牧民请愿讨要草场补贴 海外新书揭内蒙种族灭绝 (Inner Mongolian herdsmen petition for grassland compensation; New book revealing ethnic cleansing launched)
Radio Free Asia, December 11, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/ql2-12112017100414.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Beijing orders agencies to spearhead China’s transition to domestic “green cars”
South China Morning Post, December 12, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2123895/beijing-orders-agencies-spearhead-chinas-transition/

Inside China's “virtue schools” for women
British Broadcasting Company, December 12, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-42305137/

Education, health fees among key concerns
China Daily, December 12, 2017
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/12/WS5a2f29d4a3108bc8c6721a30.html/

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

New Zealand security chiefs warn of China threat
新西兰安全部门就中国威胁发出警告
Financial Times, December 11, 2017
EN: https://www.ft.com/content/4c23258a-de28-11e7-a8a4-0a1e63a52f9c
CH: http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001075438

Hong Kong (香港)

泛民百人立會外示威紮營 警凌晨抬人完成清場 (Over 100 pan-democrats camp outside LegCo in protest against rule changes and removed by police after midnight)
Mingpao, December 12, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171212/s00001/1513035498355

Related:
嚴詞反駁批評 林鄭:政府不會做損害市民工作 (Carrie Lam outright rejects criticism and says SAR government will not harm its citizens)
Mingpao, December 12, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171212/s00001/1513046744435
Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters removed from outside legislature amid protest over house rules
Hong Kong Free Press, December 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/12/12/just-guards-remove-hong-kong-pro-democracy-lawmakers-outside-legislature-amid-protest-house-rules/

英倫「香港監察」今日成立,保港人權 (London-based Hong Kong Watch launched to defend human rights)
Local Press, December 11, 2017
http://www.localpresshk.com/2017/12/hk-watch-launched-today/

Related:
New watchdog aims to "blow whistle" on Beijing and London over Hong Kong freedoms and rule of law
Hong Kong Free Press, December 12, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/12/12/new-watchdog-aims-blow-whistle-beijing-london-hong-kong-freedoms-rule-law/

趁開放日校外派傳單遭警圍 聖母書院學生批校方「多餘」 (Secondary schoolers send out localism flyers on Open Day and get surrounded by police)
Apple Daily, December 9, 2017
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/realtime/article/20171209/57560270

Commentary (评论)

立會修議事規則 為所欲為時代到了 (As LegCo rules change, time to do whatever they want has come)
Mingpao, December 12, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171212/s00022/1512995101012

仿佛又回到人人都「說假話、放衛星」的年代了 (We seem to be reliving era in which everyone lies)
Inmediahk, December 12, 2017
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1053845

世道人生:殘害人權的最大魔怪 (Behemoth that tramples on human rights)
Apple Daily, December 12, 2017
https://hk.news.appledaily.com/local/daily/article/20171212/20242172

Hong Kong must show greater commitment to equality
South China Morning Post, December 12, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2123893/hong-kong-must-show-greater-commitment-equality

From forced evictions of migrant workers to abused children: violations of social & economic rights in China refute the “China development model”
从遭遇强迫驱逐的农民工到受虐待的儿童:- 经济社会人权继续得不到保障是对「中国发展模式」的有力反驳
Chinese Human Right Defenders, December 11, 2017
EN: https://www.nchrd.org/2017/12/from-forced-evictions-of-migrant-workers-to-abused-children-violations-of-social-economic-rights-in-china-refute-the-china-development-model/
CH: https://www.nchrd.org/2017/12/from-forced-evictions-of-migrant-workers-chin-ver/