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, June 19, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

China moves ahead with prosecution of Canadians Kovrig and Spavor on spying charges
South China Morning Post, June 19, 2020

Statement Regarding the Verdict of Lawyer Yu Wensheng After His Secret Trial
Chinese Human Rights Defenders, June 19, 2020

异见诗人王藏妻子遭公安传唤音讯全无 (Wife of detained dissident poet, Wang Zang, has lost contact after being taken away by authority)
Radio Free Asia, June 19, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Google Parent Company Alphabet Is Back In China (Because It Never Left)
SupChina, June 18, 2020

China Is Collecting DNA From Tens of Millions of Men and Boys, Using U.S. Gear
中国广泛采集男性DNA用于监控

The New York Times, June 19, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

AP Interview: Martin Lee sees end of the Hong Kong he knows
Associated Press, June 19, 2020

China Presses Ahead With Tougher-Looking National Security Law For Hong Kong
Radio Free Asia, June 18, 2020

Student’s pro-democracy human chain protest cancelled after Hong Kong police warn schools
Hong Kong Free Press, June 19, 2020

【國安法壓港】英駐華使館發文反駁中國指控 指《中英聯合聲明》仍有效 文章遭微信刪除 (WeChat removes UK Embassy in China's statement on the validity of the Sino-British Joint Declaration)
The Stand News, June 19, 2020

籲歐盟對華強硬 黃之鋒:尚有自由的最後證詞 (“It could be my last testimony when I'm free,” Joshua Wong urges EU to stand strong against China)
Deutsche Welle, June 19, 2020

人大常委會會議明早閉幕 未知會否表決港區國安法 (NPC Standing Committee meeting to conclude tomorrow, decision on national security law for Hong Kong remains unknown)
Radio Television Hong Kong, June 19, 2020

大律師公會關注內地及官員透露的港區國安法建議細節 (Hong Kong Bar Association express concern over the “supreme status” of the national security law)
Radio Television Hong Kong, June 19, 2020

Related:
Statement of the Hong Kong Bar Association on NPCSC's deliberation of the proposed national security law and reported details
香港大律師公會就全國人大常委審議《香港國安法》及相關報導的聲明
Hong Kong Bar Association, June 19, 2020

涉六四煽惑非法集結 李卓人何俊仁梁耀忠黎智英等7.13提堂 (For involvement in organizing June 4 candlelight vigil, Cheuk-Yan, Albert Ho, and 11 activists are due in court on July 13 to be formally charged with “unauthorized” assembly)
Ming Pao, June 19, 2020

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Xinjiang (新疆)

Donald Trump signs Uygur human rights bill into US law, authorising sanctions against Chinese officials
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Retweeting through the Great Firewall
Australian Strategic Policy Institute, June 12, 2020

Related:
Retweeting through the Great Firewall
Australian Strategic Policy Institute, June 12, 2020

China’s Surveillance Technology Is Keeping Tabs on Populations Around the World
The Diplomat, June 18, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Group of Seven countries urge China to reconsider Hong Kong national security law
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2020

Related:
G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Hong Kong
U.S. Department of State, June 17, 2020

Hong Kong security law: China backs city’s status as financial hub as it brushes aside G7 concerns
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2020

Hong Kong protests: Taiwan announces humanitarian aid plan for people fleeing city
South China Morning Post, June 18, 2020

教育局向中小學發指引 元旦、國慶及七一活動必須奏國歌 (National anthem must play in primary, secondary schools on New Year's Day, National Day, and July 1; same rule applies to international schools)
HK01, June 18, 2020

98%新聞從業員反對立法 記協憂影響新聞出版自由 (98% of journalists oppose the national security law; Hong Kong Journalists Association fears erosion of press freedom)
Apple Daily, June 18, 2020

人大常委會今開會 正式公佈將審議港區國安法 (NPC Standing Committee officially announces it will review draft national security law for Hong Kong during current meeting)
The Stand News, June 18, 2020

港版國安法規範罪行 「外國勢力干預香港事務」變「勾結外國勢力」 鄭若驊:暫難恰當回應 (Latest revision of national security law shifts target from "foreign forces interfering in Hong Kong's internal affairs" to "collusion with foreign forces")
The Stand News, June 18, 2020

Commentary (评论)

Will Hong Kong Be Tiananmen 2.0?
香港是否会变成天安门2.0?
Project Syndicate, June 16, 2020

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng sentenced to four years in prison
South China Morning Post, June 17, 2020

Access to Information (公众知情权)

中国网络文学作者受实名制规管 恐打击创作自由 (China requires real name online publishing, threatening freedom to create)
Radio Free Asian, June 17, 2020

“端点星”倒下了,他们站起来了 (Project Terminus is down, but news archiving community in China is still standing)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2020

开创维权报道先河 “非新闻”创办人卢昱宇刑满出狱 (Lu Yuyu is released after 4 years’ imprisonment for aggregating rights defense-related news)
Radio Free Asia, June 17, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Group of 86 NGOs issue letter calling for scrapping of planned Hong Kong security law
Reuters, June 17, 2020

Related:
Open Letter Re: Reject National Security Legislation
Amnesty International, June 16, 2020

Beijing to speed up formulation of Hong Kong security law as top legislature meets
Hong Kong Free Press, June 17, 2020

Extradition to mainland China may be possible under new Hong Kong national security law, says city’s representative on country’s top legislative body
South China Morning Post, June 17, 2020

National security law: Hong Kong official drops hints that election candidates could be barred for opposing new legislation
South China Morning Post, June 17, 2020

National security law: Britain urged to go ‘one step further’ for Hong Kong’s BN(O) passport holders alarmed by Beijing legislation
South China Morning Post, June 17, 2020

傳「港版國安法」最遲 7 月初通過 《明報》引消息:中央駐港人員擬持械 (Sources: National security law for Hong Kong will be passed no later than early July, Central Government staff in Hong Kong may be armed)
The Stand News, June 17, 2020

NOW 新聞主管張志剛八月退休 本月底即轉任高級顧問 無綫前中國組主管陳鐵彪空降 (Current chief of Now News to be replaced by former chief of TVB’s China department)
The Stand News, June 17, 2020

黎智英被指涉違規經營公司 壹傳媒發公告:至今無人被捕或提控 (Jimmy Lai is reportedly under suspicion of illegal business operation; Next Digital says no one has been arrested or charged yet)
HK01, June 17, 2020

Commentary (评论)

Will China’s New National Security Law Be the ‘Anti-Virus’ Software That Locks Down Hong Kong?
The Diplomat, June 17, 2020

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

北京据报切断藏人与境外微信通讯 (Beijing reportedly cuts off Tibet's WeChat communication with outside)
Radio Free Asia, June 15, 2020

人臉識別第一案 庭審結束擇期宣判 (First case in China involving facial recognition and right to privacy concludes with ruling postponed)
Ming Pao, June 16, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Former Hong Kong envoy chosen as new British ambassador to China
South China Morning Post, June 16, 2020

National security law: Hong Kong leader calls on opposition camp not to demonise legislation"
South China Morning Post, June 16, 2020

Hong Kong justice secretary says ‘improper’ intent, political motivations reasons to quash private criminal prosecutions
South China Morning Post, June 16, 2020

Coronavirus: Hong Kong to let groups of 50 people meet in public as government dramatically reduces social-distancing measures
South China Morning Post, June 16, 2020

Britain warns at UN rights forum against security law for Hong Kong
Reuters, June 16, 2020

指香港是全國 14 億人「風險位」 林鄭:「300 萬」簽名證港人撐國安法 反對者與廣大市民為敵 警告停手 (Referring to Hong Kong as the “risk point” for 1.4 billion people, Carrie Lam claims 3 million Kong Kongers support the national security law and warns opponents to cease and desist)
The Stand News, June 16, 2020

港區國安法|籌罷課組織籲投票展民意 稱政府譴責「公投」打壓青年聲音 (Class boycott group urges referendum on national security law for Hong Kong, calls government's condemnation an attempt to suppress voices of young people)
Ming Pao, June 16, 2020

取消食肆婚宴人數限制卻保留限聚令 郭家麒批為打壓七一遊行 (Hong Kong government lifts limit on restaurants and wedding receptions but keeps public gathering at 50; Kwok Ka-Ki, LegCo member, slams move as ploy to block July 1 March)
CitizenNews, June 16, 2020

Monday, June 15, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

许艳:就余文生律师案已严重超过审限,致信办案法官刘明伟法官、孙妍法官、花玉军院长、刘德军纪检组组长 (Wife Xu Yan urges authorities to release lawyer Yu Wensheng, who has been in prolonged, unlawful detention since January 2018)
Weiquanwang, June 15, 2020

Access to Information (公众知情权)

Coronavirus: Chinese activists held for posting censored articles to face trial on criminal charges
South China Morning Post, June 14, 2020

Related:
端点星两志愿者涉“寻衅滋事”被正式逮捕 (2 Project Terminus volunteers are officially charged with "picking quarrels and provoking trouble")
Radio Free Asia, June 15, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Beijing reserves right to handle ‘rare’ cases involving Hong Kong’s new national security law
South China Morning Post, June 15, 2020

港版國安法|港澳辦:主要由特區執法 中央直接管轄特別嚴重案件 (Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of HKMAO: National security law is primarily enforced by the SAR government, but the central government will handle serious cases)
HK01, June 15, 2020

Beijing’s security law for Hong Kong won’t be compatible with city’s common law system says Justice Sec.
Hong Kong Free Press, June 15, 2020

Thousands of mourners on death anniversary of Hong Kong protester ‘raincoat man’
South China Morning Post, June 15, 2020

Hong Kong protests: 15 opposition figures charged over unauthorised rallies apply to have trial put on hold
South China Morning Post, June 15, 2020

教育局:兩辦聲明表達對香港青年人重視及關注 (Education Bureau: HKMAO and LOCPG issue statements on youth in Hong Kong)
Radio Television Hong Kong, June 13, 2020

Related:
香港中联办发言人:坚定支持香港特区建立健全与“一国两制”相适应的教育体系 (Spokesperson of LOCPG: Strongly support HKSAR to build a healthy education system compatible with "one country, two systems")
Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R., June 12, 2020

国务院港澳办发言人:斩断黑手,救救孩子 (Spokesperson of HKMAO: Save children, cut off the black hands)
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, June 12, 2020

國安法未有條文 建制組織發起「無獨書展」 籲舉報涉獨書刊產品 轉交國安部門 (Pro-establishment organizations launch campaign to encourage people to report books relating to Hong Kong independence directly to mainland national security departments)
The Stand News, June 15, 2020

Friday, June 12, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

美国国务院发布宗教自由报告 蓬佩奥谴责中国宗教镇压持续加剧 (In latest International Religious Freedom Report, U.S. State Dept condemns China for intensifying religious oppression)
Voice of America, June 12, 2020

Related:
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom
U.S. Department of State, June 10, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Apple removes two podcast apps from China store after censorship demands
The Guardian, June 12, 2020

Twitter removes 23,750 China-linked accounts for spreading disinformation
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2020

Relate:
Twitter Removes Chinese Misinformation Campaign
推特删除大量帐号,打击中国虚假信息宣传活动

The New York Times, June 12, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai among 13 opposition figures to be charged over June 4 vigil
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2020

Related:
被指煽惑六四非法集結 支聯會鄒幸彤張文光尹兆堅 民陣陳皓桓等九人將被檢控 (9 activists face charges for inciting illegal assembly on June 4th)
The Stand News, June 12, 2020

Hong Kong protests: police take dispersal action as hundreds gather to mark one-year anniversary of first major clashes
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2020

National security law: Beijing’s offices in Hong Kong take aim at organisers of class boycotts
South China Morning Post, June 12, 2020

香港版国安法:《香港半年报告书》引发英中外交舌战再起 (U.K. releases controversial semi-annual report on Hong Kong)
BBC, June 12, 2020

國歌條例刊憲生效 消息指警方調查可參考社交媒體言論 (National Anthem Law takes effect today; source: police can reference social media posts as part of investigation)
Radio Television Hong Kong, June 12, 2020

大律師公會:港區國安法檢控應嚴格按照本港刑事程序 (Hong Kong Bar Association: prosecution of offences under the national security law should be in strict accordance with normal criminal procedures applicable in Hong Kong courts)
Radio Television Hong Kong, June 12, 2020

Related:
Statement of the Hong Kong Bar Association on the Drafting of the National Security Law
香港大律師公會就全國人大常委草擬《港區國安法》的聲明
Hong Kong Bar Association, June 12, 2020