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, November 19, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

加拿大担忧网络安全威胁 首次点名中俄等国(Canada names China, Russia for the first time as key cybersecurity threats)
Deutsche Welle, November 19, 2020

Related:

Canadian security agency warns of ‘state-sponsored’ cyber threats
Radio Canada International, November 19, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Court rules Hong Kong’s police watchdogs ‘inadequate’; failures in displaying officer IDs breached Bill of Rights
Hong Kong Free Press, November 19, 2020

Hong Kong protests: police national security unit to investigate student rally at Chinese University
South China Morning Post, November 18, 2020

Five Eyes allies call on China to reverse ban on Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators
The Guardian, November 18, 2020

英美澳加新“五眼联盟”发表香港问题联合声明:北京有预谋禁绝反对声音(Joint statement on Hong Kong by "Five Eyes Alliance" of UK, U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand: Beijing has planned to extinguish dissent)
British Broadcasting Corporation, November 19, 2020

Related: (Note: November 18, 2020)

Joint Statement on Hong Kong
U.S. Department of State, November 18, 2020

12港人被扣近3個月 家屬稱收到親筆信但認為有可疑 (Families doubt authenticity of signed letters from detained Hong Kong 12)
Radio Television Hong Kong, November 19, 2020

鍾翰林被指搶國旗受審 控方屢改控罪及案情 官:唔係好滿意 (In trial of Tony Chung, accused of grabbing national flag, judge finds prosecution’s repeated change of charges problematic)
inmediahk.net, November 19, 2020

記協聲明:覆核警員不展示編號及投訴警方機制不符《人權法》獲判勝訴 (Statement by Hong Kong Journalists Association on court ruling that HKPF’s failure in displaying officers’ IDs violates Bill of Rights)
inmediahk.net, November 19, 2020

Commentary (评论)

为什么许多中国自由派支持特朗普?Why Do Chinese Liberals Embrace American Conservatives?
The New York Times, November 19, 2020

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Xinjiang (新疆)

US, International Lawmakers Urge UN to Launch Probe of Rights Abuses in Xinjiang
Radio Free Asia, November 17, 2020

Taiwan (台湾)

Pro-China TV station in Taiwan ordered off air over disinformation
The Guardian, November 18, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Prison recommended for Chinese citizen journalist for coronavirus reports from Wuhan
South China Morning Post, November 18, 2020

强奸幼女获轻判 法院量刑还依据法律吗?(Are light sentences for rape convicts involving underage girls in accordance with the law?)
Radio Free Asia, November 17, 2020

广州当局逮捕范一平等多名民运人士(Guangzhou authorities arrest local pro-democracy activists including Fan Yiping)
Radio Free Asia, November 17, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Scoop: State Department to release Kennan-style paper on China
Axios, November 17, 2020

Related:
The Elements of the China Challenge
U.S. Department of State, November 17, 2020

“中国行动计划”两周年硕果累累 剑指“非传统情报分子”(In report at 2nd anniversary of “China Initiative,” U.S. Department of Justice announces substantial progress targeting “non-traditional intel gatherers”)
Radio Free Asia, November 17, 2020

Related:
The China Initiative: Year-in-Review (2019-20)
The US Department of Justice, November 16, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong police arrest 3 pro-democracy ex-lawmakers in connection with throwing foul-smelling objects in legislature
Hong Kong Free Press, November 18, 2020

Hong Kong mask manufacturer suspends business after being accused of possibly violating national security law over design and packaging of products
South China Morning Post, November 18, 2020

圖書館審查陳淑莊、黃之鋒等著作 油尖旺區會通過促重新上架(Yau Tsim Mong district council approves return of books by Tanya Chan, Joshua Wong to library shelves)
inmediahk.net, November 18, 2020

言論被指涉違港區國安法 科大教授李靜君反駁原意遭扭曲 (Accused of violating National Security Law, Professor Ching Kwan Lee of the University of Science and Technology of China argues the meaning of her expression was distorted)
Mingpao.com, November 18, 2020

HRIC Note: The accusers are pro-Beijing newspapers Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po. The sentence in question is “Hong Kong belongs to the world”—which Professor Lee says she used to describe Hong Kong’s connection with the international community in terms of culture, consciousness, and economic ties, rather than sovereignty.

Commentary (评论)

議會蓋棺,泛民退場——香港再無立法會 (Legco is dead as Pan-dems withdraw: Hong Kong no longer has a legislature)
The News Lens, November 18, 2020

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Taiwan (台湾)

Beijing prepares blacklist to target ‘diehard Taiwan separatists’
South China Morning Post, November 17, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Calls Grow For Release of Chinese Lawyer Who Exposed Torture During Detention
Radio Free Asia, November 17, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

北京称“中国特色社会主义”保障香港,学者质疑是“一国凌驾两制” (Beijing claims "socialism with Chinese characteristics" protects Hong Kong; scholar questions whether it is "one country over two systems")
British Broadcasting Corporation, November 17, 2020

中共改造香港方案出台:国安法只是序幕,党的领导才是核心 (Senior PRC official: CPC has launched program to remake Hong Kong; National Security Law is prologue, CPC leadership is core)
Voice of America, November 17, 2020

US moves ahead with law that could remove Chinese firms from stock exchanges
Bloomberg, November 17, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong District Councillor Raymond Li arrested months after rally against looming national security law
Hong Kong Free Press, November 17, 2020

China says it plans more moves in Hong Kong including ‘perfect’ legal system
Independent, November 17, 2020

Related:
張曉明指反中亂港者出局是政治規矩 認同要司法改革 (Zhang Xiaoming: Ouster of PRC opponents and Hong Kong chaos proponents is the political rule; SAR needs “judicial reform”)
RTHK, November 17, 2020

Related:
張曉明:本港社會崇尚民主自由核心價值前要加上愛國 (Zhang Xiaoming, Deputy Director of State Council’s Hong Kong And Macau Affairs Office: Hong Kong society must add patriotism before advocacy for core values of democracy and freedom)
RTHK, November 17, 2020

National security education in Hong Kong about nurturing positive values and sense of Chinese identity, not reciting laws, teachers told
South China Morning Post, November 17, 2020

周梓樂死因庭研訊 指揮官稱下令向停車場射5枚催淚彈 (Court inquiry into death of Chow Tsz-lok: Commander ordered firing of tear gas into parking lot 5 times)
RTHK, November 17, 2020

Related:
【周梓樂死因研訊】警停車場掃蕩期間目睹傷者 指揮官多次強調沒有妨礙救援 (Court inquiry into death of Chow Tsz-lok: Commander stresses police discovered wounded Chow in parking lot during raid, did not hinder rescue)
inmediahk.net, November 17, 2020

劉兆佳料「愛國者治港」框架將擴至區議會及選委會 (Lau Siu-kai, Hong Kong delegate to CPPCC, foresees extension of "patriots governing Hong Kong" framework to district councils and election committee)
RTHK, November 17, 2020

中国大陆法律学者向香港支联会开炮,六四烛光终将熄灭?(Does mainland legal scholar’s attack on Hong Kong Alliance augurs the extinguishing of June Fourth candlelight in Hong Kong?)
Voice of America, November 17, 2020

譚得志涉發表煽動文字等14罪續還押 控方申由港區國安法指定法官審理 (In Tam Tak-chi’s “incitement” case under National Security Law, prosecution argues for a designated judge)
Ming Pao, November 17, 2020

質疑特首 DQ 四民主派議員屬行為失當 「長洲覆核王」申司法覆核 (Hong Konger seeks judicial review of disqualification of 4 Legco members)
Stand News, November 17, 2020

曾國衞:警方反送中執法克制 冇死過一個人 將向聯合國澄清 (Erick Tsang, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs: Will clarify to UN in ICCPR review that HKPF exercised restraint in 2019 anti-extradition protests, “no one died”)
Stand News, November 16, 2020

Czech foreign ministry condemns Chinese move to disqualify Hong Kong MPs, China reacts
Radio Prague International, November 17, 2020

Commentary (评论)

泛民總辭:是進是退?(Pan-dems’ mass resignation: Progress or retreat?)
Ming Pao, November 17, 2020

Monday, November 16, 2020

Xinjiang (新疆)

Internment Camps in Xinjiang’s Aksu Separated by Crematorium
Radio Free Asia, November 13, 2020

China Muslims: Volkswagen says 'no forced labour' at Xinjiang plant
British Broadcasting Corporation, November 13, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

被控煽动颠覆国家政权罪的重庆民营企业家李怀庆案将于2020年11月20日在重庆市第一中级法院宣判 (Detained for nearly 3 years, Li Huaiqing, Chongqing private entrepreneur charged with “inciting subversion of state power,” will be tried in Chongqing No.1 Intermediate Court on Nov. 20)
Weiquanwang, November 16, 2020

Related:
Private Chat on WeChat Is Criminalized——An Appeal by the wife of Li Huaiqing, a private entrepreneur in Chongqing
Human Rights in China, August 19, 2019

Her Abuse Was a ‘Family Matter,’ Until It Went Live
拉姆之死:当家暴在中国只是“家务事”
The New York Times, November 16, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China finds coronavirus on frozen meat, packaging from Latin America, New Zealand
Reuters, November 15, 2020

New Zealand's Ardern says no COVID on meat exports; checking Chinese claims
Reuters, November 15, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Chinese spies 'trawling LinkedIn for espionage targets'
Australian Financial Review, November 12, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong’s controversial national security law tip line gets 10,000 messages in first week of operation
South China Morning Post, November 14, 2020

Hong Kong politicians face pro-democracy exodus
The Guardian, November 14, 2020

Hong Kong schools flooded with official ‘suggestions’ to promote national identity among students, with training for teachers too
South China Morning Post, November 14, 2020

Tightened security, unease over new national security law, as Hong Kong campuses mark first anniversary of protest violence
South China Morning Post, November 15, 2020

8.31暴動案開審 控方:無片段證被告實質行為 僅依賴被捕地點、裝備及逃避警方 (In trial of “8.31” rioting case, prosecution admits to lack of evidence of defendants’ actions, relying only on location, equipment, and flight from police)
inmediahk.net, November 16, 2020

港區國安法首案 正式交高院審理 (The first case under National Security Law is formally transferred to the High Court)
Stand News, November 16, 2020

8個傳媒工會批港府行政手段阻調查真相 要求見特首開放查冊傳媒選項 (In joint letter, 8 media unions criticize measures to restrict search of gov’t registration data, seek meeting with Chief Executive for special provisions for journalists)
HKCNews, November 16, 2020

Related:
香港民研:逾4成非民主派支持者相信拘捕蔡玉玲有政治目的 (Poll shows more than 40% among non-democratic supporters believe the arrest of RTHK’s Bao Choy was politically motivated)
inmediahk.net, November 13, 2020

教育局稱被取消註冊教師可按機制上訴而非以政治施壓 (Education Bureau: Deregistered teachers can appeal; decisions not results of political pressure)
RTHK, November 16, 2020

特區政府強烈譴責多國對人大常委會決定作毫無根據指責 (Hong Kong SAR gov’t: Strongly condemn baseless accusations by many countries of the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress)
RTHK, November 14, 2020

香港已领取BNO人数急增至50万 人可移居英国但强积金未能同行 (Nearly 500,000 Hong Kongers have obtained BNO passports to reside in UK but have difficulty retrieving social security—or MPF—savings)
Radio France Internationale, November 15, 2020

Commentary (评论)

Hong Kong’s security law has chilled dissent, but there are ways to keep the spirit of opposition alive
Hong Kong Free Press, November 14, 2020