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.

Monday, May 10, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

‘China to restrict mobile app news notifications in Internet clampdown
Reuters, May 8, 2021

‘Are you sleeping well?’ How Europe’s China researchers are alarmed by efforts to stifle criticism
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2021

China plays down ‘leaked documents’ showing it discussed weaponising coronavirus in 2015
The Independent, May 10, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

基督教网络空间被挤压 习思想登堂入室渗透教会讲道(Christian cyberspace is squeezed as Xi thought seeps into preaching)
Voice of America, May 10, 2021

美众议员推出法案 要阻止中共在美大学从事间谍和盗窃活动(U.S. Congressman introduces bill to prevent CPC espionage, theft at American universities)
Voice of America, May 8, 2021

2019年中国碳排放量已超过经合组织国家总和(China's carbon emissions in 2019 exceed OECD total)
Voice of America, May 8, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

Meituan’s CEO is in the hot seat over a classical Chinese poem about book burning
Quartz, May 10, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong national security law: trial without a jury unconstitutional, say lawyers for first person charged under new legislation
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2021

Hong Kong protests: judge declines request to withdraw from riot case over ‘bias’, says defendants had lost focus
South China Morning Post, May 10, 2021

支聯會設六四街站 警方到場指未經批准籌款(Hong Kong Alliance sets up June Forth street booth, is warned by police over unauthorized fundraising)
Hong Kong, May 9, 2021

Two more Hong Kong democrats quit district councils while in custody pending security law trial
Hong Kong Free Press, May 10, 2021

Related:
區議員宣誓修例通過在即 公民黨周琬雯辭職 稱基於私人理由「明就明」(Civic Party member Eunice Chau resigns from Sham Shui Po district councilor post)
Stand News, May 7, 2021

尹兆堅、連桷璋、胡耀昌、徐子見、鍾錦麟辭任區議員 區議會網站顯示王百羽任期完結(Five district councilors—Andrew Wan, Dalu Lin, Max Wu, Andy Chui and Ben Chung—resign; Max Wu also quits Neo Democrats)
Ming Pao, May 10, 2021

【區議員辭職】尹兆堅、徐子見辭任區議員 今年共17人已辭職 區議員宣誓周三立會二讀(17 pro-democracy district councilors have resigned in 2021)
Citizen News, May 10, 2021

香港最新民调:近6成受访者反对修改香港选举制度(Survey: Close to 60% oppose electoral overhaul)
RFI, May 8, 2021

Related:
“We Hongkongers Survey” press conference cum mini-policy forum about Electoral Reform
「我們香港人計劃」有關選舉制度之新聞發佈會暨小型政策論壇
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, May 7, 2021

Hong Kong pulls more democracy books from library shelves citing security law concerns
Hong Kong Free Press, May 10, 2021

Four in 10 Hong Kong teachers want to leave the profession, most of them blame political pressure, survey finds
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2021

Related:
近兩成教師有計劃離開本港教育界 教協促政府改善施政,停止干預教育界(Nearly 20% teachers plan to leave education sector; Teachers' Union urges gov't to improve governance and stop interfering)
Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, May 9, 2021

UK university tells lecturers not to record classes about Hong Kong and China, citing security law risks
Hong Kong Free Press, May 10, 2021

Publishing, Media Takeovers Part of China's Two-Pronged Grip on Hong Kong
Radio Free Asia, May 10, 2021

Mainland Chinese lawyer delisted after taking up Hong Kong fugitives case barred from leaving country to join US fellowship programme
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2021

Commentary (评论)

Is Hong Kong facing an education crisis? Curriculum changes, ‘red lines’ and families rushing to leave
South China Morning Post, May 9, 2021

When Covid Hit, China Was Ready to Tell Its Version of the Story
中国正如何改变全球媒体格局?

The New York Times, May 10, 2021

“汉人是中国的白人吗?”:美国种族议题引发部分汉人反思(“Are Han Chinese the whites of China?”: American racial issues prompt reflections)
Voice of America, May 9, 2021

Friday, May 07, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

Ramadan in China: Faithful Dwindle Under Limits on Religion
The Diplomat, May 7, 2021

China pushes back against critics of its policies in Xinjiang
The Economist, May 6, 2021

新疆集中营幸存者首度在美国国会作证(Survivor of Xinjiang concentration camp testifies for the first time in U.S. Congress)
Radio France Internationale, May 7, 2021

Related:/
Hearing: The Atrocities Against Uyghurs and Other Minorities in Xinjiang (Testimony of Tursunay Ziyawudun at 23:37-32:58)
U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, May 6, 2021

Taiwan (台湾)

法国参议院压倒性多数通过支持台湾参与国际组织法案(By overwhelming majority, French Senate passes bill supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations)
Radio France Internationale, May 6, 2021

Tibet (西藏)

西藏那曲一藏人因拒绝悬挂国旗被捕狱中死亡 遗留六个孩子(Tibetan in Nagqu, Tibet, arrested for refusing to fly national flag, dies in prison, leaving six children)
Radio Free Asia, May 7, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Family of Detained Chinese Rights Lawyer Turned Away After Making Torture Complaint
Radio Free Asia, May 7, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Human rights have no place in Swiss-Chinese trade deal
Deutsche Welle, May 7, 2021

习近平:世界陷入乱局,中国应把握机遇(Xi Jinping: World is in chaos; China should seize the opportunity)
Deutsche Welle, May 7, 2021

Related:
习近平:把握新发展阶段,贯彻新发展理念,构建新发展格局(Xi Jinping: Seize the stage for new development, implement new development concept, and construct a new development pattern)
Qiushi Journal, April 30, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Fugitive former lawmaker Ted Hui’s legal bid against withdrawal of protest cases quashed as he ‘despises’ court, judge says
South China Morning Post, May 7, 2021

Hong Kong court grants democrat Wu Chi-wai bail to attend father’s funeral
Hong Kong Free Press, May 7, 2021

Five localists arrested in subversion case
The Standard, May 7, 2021

US calls on Hong Kong to release Tiananmen vigil activists
Agence France-Presse, May 7, 2021

District councillor quits Hong Kong Civic Party, saying its future is uncertain
Hong Kong Free Press, May 7, 2021

Can Bar get itself out of its protest quagmire?
The Standard, May 7, 2021

【7.28 上環】被控暴動 12 人聯合申請「換法官」 指法官陳仲衡疑挖苦、嘲諷辯方(12 charged with rioting over protest in 2019 apply for recusal of judge Johnny Chan)
Stand News, May 7, 2021

被指應離任港終審法院非常任法官 廖柏嘉﹕未見法律被濫用至無法接受 《基本法》仍行之有效(British non-permanent judge David Neuberger says Basic Law "is still very much alive and effective" in response to view that British judges should leave high court)
Stand News, May 7, 2021

Related:
The Times view on British judges in Hong Kong: True Justice
The Times, March 15, 2021

Hong Kong education authorities investigating administrators of school where teacher was stripped of registration for ‘bias’
South China Morning Post, May 7, 2021

Related:
前大學教授馬路舉「五一」手勢 判監3個月(Former university professor sentenced to 3 months in jail over gesturing "five demands, not one less" in a 2020 anti-national security protest)
Ming Pao, May 7, 2021

【清算教師】楊潤雄:研重推《專業守則》修訂 四年前擱置 倡師生禁談「無關教學」議題(Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung says Professional Conduct in Education Amendment, abandoned four years ago, is being considered)
Stand News, May 7, 2021

【DSE】歷史科老師:試題「重經濟輕政治」 問中國經濟現代化因素限年期 避考生引文革為例(Teacher: This year's DSE history exam focuses on economic, avoids political questions)
Stand News, May 6, 2021

RTHK Independence Called into Question Over Show Hosted by Hong Kong Leader
Voice of America, May 7, 2021

Interview: 'I Kept Wanting to Stay And Do a Bit More'
Radio Free Asia, May 6, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

How China turned a prize-winning iPhone hack against the Uyghurs
MIT Technology Review, May 6, 2021

UK spies warn local authorities over ‘smart city’ tech risks
英国情报界就智慧城市技术风险向地方政府发出警告

Financial Times, May 7, 2021

Thursday, May 06, 2021

Xinjiang (新疆)

The Reciter: A Uyghur family’s pride — and downfall
SupChina, May 5, 2021

新西兰国会谴责中国新疆针对维吾尔族的人权打压(New Zealand Parliament condemns China's Xinjiang human rights suppression against Uyghurs)
Radio Free Asia, May 6, 2021

Taiwan (台湾)

Taiwanese academics and legislators call for University of Hong Kong head to be expelled from national academy
Hong Kong Free Press, May 6, 2021

Taiwan-Macau gay couple win legal battle for marriage recognition
Agence France-Presse, May 6, 2021

台湾-澳门跨籍同性婚姻官司胜诉 户政机关需准许结婚登记申请(Victory for Taiwan-Macau cross-national same-sex marriage lawsuit—gov’t must approve household registration application)
Voice of America, May 6, 2021

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Beijing official makes a big show of understanding gig workers
China Labour Bulletin, May 6, 2021

Access to Information (公众知情权)

DW reporters in China: Documenting the erosion of fundamental rights
Deutsche Welle, May 6, 2021

Authorities Shut Down Ethnic Minority Church in China's Yunnan
Radio Free Asia, May 5, 2021

Related:
China ‘in a Category by Itself’ of Religious Rights Violators
The Diplomat, May 6, 2021

2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (2022北京冬奥)

Olympics sponsors duck questions over Beijing 2022 as boycott calls grow
Financial Times, May 6, 2021

Government Accountability (政府问责)

G7外长批中国侵犯人权 吁各国团结对抗新冠(G7 foreign ministers criticize China for human rights violations, call on all countries to unite against Covid-19)
Deutsche Welle, May 6, 2021

China hits out as G7 slams Beijing over human rights, backs Taiwan
South China Morning Post, May 6, 2021

Exclusive | European Union again drops plans for measures related to China’s Hong Kong actions
South China Morning Post, May 5, 2021

中欧关系:欧盟暂缓批准《中欧全面投资协定》,曾被誉为“历史性投资协定”( China-EU Relations: EU suspends ratification of investment deal with China, once known as a "historic")
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 6, 2021

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

The Downside of China’s Online Muscle-Flexing
Foreign Policy, May 5, 2021

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong court jails three on riot charges despite no evidence of rioting
The Guardian, May 6, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong: Joshua Wong jailed over banned Tiananmen vigil
British Broadcasting Corporation, May 6, 2021

Hong Kong prosecutors request national security law judge for Jimmy Lai fraud trial over office use
South China Morning Post, May 6, 2021

Related:
Hong Kong: Critics slam Beijing crackdown ahead of Jimmy Lai trial
Deutsche Welle, May 6, 2021

National security law: Hong Kong police arrest 3 students for alleged acts of secession and subversion on social media, more could face same charge
South China Morning Post, May 6, 2021

香港4名“国庆日暴动”市民遭判刑 法官以4年半作量刑起点(Four are sentenced for involvement in protests on 2019 National Day)
Radio Free Asia, May 5, 2021

被指叫人刪示威照片 林卓廷等3人否認企圖妨礙司法公正等罪 明年11月開審(Pro-democracy ex-lawmaker Lam Cheuk Ting, two others plead not guilty of perverting the course of justice in asking others to delete 2019 protests photos)
inmedia.hk, May 6, 2021

Hong Kong national security law: lawyers file urgent bail application in bid to overturn ban on detained party chief attending his father’s funeral
South China Morning Post, May 6, 2021

RTHK’s Yuen Long doc and BBC’s Xinjiang reporting win Human Rights Press Awards
Hong Kong Free Press, May 6, 2021

Related:
25th Human Rights Press Awards (2021) Winners
第二十五屆人權新聞奬(2021)得奬名單
Human Rights Press Awards, May 6, 2021

第25屆人權新聞獎得主聯署聲明︰呼籲各界尊重及以行動守護新聞自由
The 25th Human Rights Press Awards Winners' Joint Statement

Citizen News, May 6, 2021

Top producer at embattled documentary series Hong Kong Connection quits RTHK – source
Hong Kong Free Press, May 6, 2021

Hong Kong Pushes ‘Fake News’ Label as Media Face ‘Worst of Times’
The New York Times, May 6, 2021

中大取消8名朔夜前成員任校務委員會學生代表(Chinese University disqualifies eight student representatives from University affairs committee)
Ming Pao, May 6, 2021

Pro-establishment lawmakers take aim at Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s team, passing motion urging administration to improve its governance
South China Morning Post, May 6, 2021

National security law: ex-chief justice Geoffrey Ma defends role of foreign judges in Hong Kong, argues they should help enforce mini-constitution
South China Morning Post, May 6, 2021

Security law: Hong Kong police cordon off pro-democracy clothing store two days after opening
Hong Kong Free Press, May 6, 2021