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, March 17, 2020

Access to Information (公众知情权)

China Announces That It Will Expel American Journalists
New York Times, March 17, 2020

Related:
中方针对美方打压中国媒体驻美机构行为采取反制措施
China Takes Countermeasures Against Restrictive Measures on Chinese Media Agencies in the US
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, March 18, 2020

HRIC Note: The move to prohibit New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post journalists with U.S. citizenship from working in Hong Kong, where there is no official registration requirement for journalists, directly contravenes the “one country, two systems” principle under which the  Hong Kong Special Administration Region is governed. Last October, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam stated clearly: “We have no intention or plan to start a centralised registration system for journalists, not to mention doing any vetting on who can conduct reporting . . . . Freedom of speech is a core value of Hong Kong, and I completely agree that the media has a role as the ‘fourth estate’ in monitoring the government. So our job is to facilitate and assist the work of the media.”

中国人权注:禁止《纽约时报》、《华尔街日报》和《华盛顿邮报》拥有美国国籍的记者在香港工作的举动,直接违反了香港特别行政区在“一国两制”原则管辖下的规定;在香港,记者没有正式注册的要求。去年十月,香港行政长官林郑月娥明确表示:“我们没有打算或计划启动针对记者的集中登记制度,更不用说对谁可以作什么报道进行任何审查……言论自由是香港的核心价值,我完全同意媒体在监督政府方面扮演着‘第四产业’的角色。因此,我们的工作是促进和协助媒体的工作。”

网络文革?辩手邱晨为“港独”言论致歉退圈 (An Internet Cultural Revolution? Well-known debater Qiu Chen apologizes for 6-year-old remarks accused as supportive of “Hong Kong independence”)
Deutsche Welle, March 17, 2020

中国赋予网警更大权力,压制有关疫情应对的愤怒和批评 (Muting coronavirus anger, China empowers its internet police)
The New York Times, March 17, 2020

面对当局对疫情报道的压制,中国记者发起反击 (As China cracks down on coronavirus coverage, journalists fight back)
The New York Times, March 16, 2020

中国称特朗普在推文中使用“中国病毒”是对中国的污名化 (China says Trump's use of "Chinese virus" in tweets is stigma over China)
Voice of America, March 17, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

新冠争议发酵 中美互怼“冠名权” (Dispute over origin of the coronavirus escalates into U.S.-China diplomatic crisis S.)
Deutsche Welle, March 17, 2020

伊朗因新冠疫情大赦囚犯,中国呢? (Amid coronavirus outbreak, Iran amnesties prisoners, what about China?)
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong loses ranking as world’s freest economy due to months of unrest
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2020

Attempts to probe alleged abuses by Hong Kong police fizzle as district councils told they are overstepping authority
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2020

Hong Kong pro-democracy camp split over holding internal ballots to maximise its chances in Legislative Council elections
South China Morning Post, March 17, 2020

林鄭:周四起所有抵港人士須隔離 14 天 將向全球地區發紅色旅遊警示 全面復課無期 (Hong Kong to require mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arriving travelers, except from mainland China, Macau, Taiwan; date for school reopening remains unclear)
The Stand News, March 17, 2020

警方拒出席會議 書面回覆錯字錯格式 北區區議會:龜縮卸責、極不尊重 (Police refuse to send representative to security briefing held by North District Council)
The Stand News, March 17, 2020

平機會朱敏健: 收近 600 疫症相關歧視查詢 餐廳拒招待內地客或涉殘疾歧視、種族歧視 (The Equal Opportunities Commission has received 600 discrimination complaints during the coronavirus outbreak; restaraunts refusing services to mainlander may have violated the Race Discrimination Ordinance, and discriminated against disabled)
The Stand News, March 17, 2020

許智峯私人檢控西灣河開槍警及深水埗撞人的士司機 東區法院下月 7 日開庭處理 (Hui Chi-fung files private prosecution against police officer who shot a protester at Sai Wan Ho and the taxi driver who ran over pedestrian; Eastern District court to review filing on April 7)
The Stand News, March 17, 2020

葉劉淑儀認為全面禁入境挫經濟 政府抗疫已做得好 (Regina Ip fears market impact from full border closure border, says government is doing a very good job in containing the disease)
Radio Television Hong Kong, March 17, 2020

Commentary (评论)

时事大家谈:听信中共宣传疫情好转,海外华人回国挤爆机场 (Current Affairs Discussion: Believing CPC’s propaganda about progress in controlling the coronavirus, overseas Chinese are returning and packing airports)
Voice of America, March 17, 2020

Monday, March 16, 2020

Access to Justice (司法公正)

Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang goes missing after criticising Beijing’s response to coronavirus outbreak
South China Morning Post, March 15, 2020

“722” NGO长沙富能案程渊、刘永泽、吴葛健雄3人今同时解除6位律师的代理委托 (After being denied access to clients for nearly 8 months, lawyers for three detained members of public interest NGO Changsha Funengare are dismissed)
Weiquanwang, March 16, 2020

HRIC Note: On March 16, without providing any written notifications, Changsha state security authorities and various Bureau of Justice authorities informed the lawyers representing the three detained members of the public interest NGO Changsha Funeng that they have been dismissed by their clients. The absence of formal written notices raises serious concerns about whether the detainees—Cheng Yuan, Liu Yongze, Wu GeJianxiong—have in fact authorized the dismissal. (One of the dismissed lawyers is Wu’s father, Wu Youshui, who is representing his son.)

In nearly eight months of detention since they were first taken into custody on July 22, 2019, the “Changsha Three” have not been granted access to their lawyers. In a de facto state of enforced disappearance, they face risks of being forced to make confessions under torture.

The police authorities have been extending the period of investigation multiple times, without bringing formal charges. Today’s “dismissal” may signal an impending secret trial in which the defendants are forced to be represented by government appointed lawyers.

中国人权注: 长沙公益仨(程渊、刘永泽、吴葛剑雄)的代理律师今日都接到当局的非正式通知,告知他们被解除代理,连吴葛剑雄的父亲吴有水律师也被通知已被其儿子解除委托。长沙公益仨在2019年7月22日被长沙国安带走后,一直被禁止会见律师,处于被强迫失踪的状态,面临被刑讯逼供的风险。该案在侦查期满后不断被延期,目前当局强迫解除当事人委托的律师,意在指定官派律师进行秘密审判。

余文生“煽颠案”司法延宕 其妻上书京官要求律师探访权 (Wife of lawyer Yu Wensheng appeals to Beijing officials for husband’s right to access to lawyers)
Voice of America, March 16, 2020

Access to Information (公众知情权)

Muting Coronavirus Anger, China Empowers Its Internet Police
The New York Times, March 16, 2020

As China Cracks Down on Coronavirus Coverage, Journalists Fight Back
The New York Times, March 14, 2020

秘鲁诺贝尔文学奖得主发表中国隐瞒疫情言论 外交部回应 (China’s Foreign Ministry attacks Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa for criticizing Chinese government’s attempts to cover up the truth of coronavirus outbreak)
Beijing News, March 16, 2020

Related:
China is coming after author Mario Vargas Llosa for saying the coronavirus originated there
Quartz, March 16, 2020

任志强失联,曾撰文批评习近平 (Chinese tycoon who criticized Xi Jinping’s handling of coronavirus has vanished)
The New York Times, March 16, 2020

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

Chinese journalism ‘coronavirus crisis hero’ comes under attack online
South China Morning Post, March 14, 2020

3·15打假日,民主人士洛杉矶总领馆前喊“假的” (On China's Consumer Day, also known as " Anti-Counterfeiting Day," dozens of democracy advocates chant “fake, fake” in front of PRC consulate in Los Angeles to protest falsehoods in official Chinese narratives)
Voice of America, March 16, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

美国律师提集体诉讼 状告中国引发武汉新冠肺炎疫情 (Florida law firm files class action lawsuit against Chinese authorities for mishandling the coronavirus outbreak, triggering a global pandemic)
Radio France Internationale, March 16, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

中国当局采取大数据应对疫情令人担忧隐私侵犯 (Chinese authorities use big data in response to coronavirus outbreak, causing privacy breach concerns)
Voice of America, March 16, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong Lawmakers Criticize 'Arbitrary' Arrests by Police
Radio Free Asia, March 16, 2020

First aid volunteer arrested at Hong Kong anti-government protest pleads guilty to using walkie-talkie without a licence
South China Morning Post, March 16, 2020

Year of living dangerously: Hong Kong bombing campaign ‘almost unprecedented’, says police explosives unit
South China Morning Post, March 14, 2020

陳健民刑滿出獄:獄中日子無一刻後悔 爭取民主必須付出代價 (Upon release from prison, Chan Kin-Man, an "Occupy Central" initiator, says: "I've never regretted for a single moment—this is the price for Hong Kong democracy")
inmediahk.net, March 14, 2020

何君堯推23條立法 稱已收100萬簽名支持 (Junius Ho claims 1 million have signed petition supporting reintroduction of Article 23)
inmediahk.net, March 13, 2020

Related:何君堯街站促 23 條立法 被指簽名即派搓手液 光頭警長穿制服與民合照 (Junius Ho starts signature drive for reintroduction of Article 23, giving away free hand sanitizer)
The Stand News, March 15, 2020

Commentary (评论)

肺炎疫情:“中国抗疫模式”引全球反思,但难以在全世界复制 ("China's coronavirus-resistant model" is difficult to replicate worldwide for its human rights violation)
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 16, 2020

华丽转身? 疫情下中共的大外宣与大内宣 (Gorgeous turn? CPC tries to morph from 'troublemaker' to 'global anti-coronavirus leader' through large-scale internal and external propaganda efforts)
Deutsche Welle, March 16, 2020

评论:不,专制并不比民主制更善于处理危机 (No, autocracy is no better at managing crises than democracy)
Deutsche Welle, March 15, 2020

Friday, March 13, 2020

Xinjiang (新疆)

Uyghur, Falun Gong Detainees Likely Source For China’s Organ Market: Report
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2020

Access to Information (信息公开)

记者无疆界公布"互联网敌人" 网信办榜上有名 (Reporters Without Borders releases a list of "Internet Enemies" including Cyberspace Administration of China)
Deutsche Welle, March 13, 2020

Relate:
If China really considers web surveillance “against human rights”, it must stop spying on journalists
Reporters Without Borders, March 12, 2020

曾报道武汉新冠“八君子”造谣 新华社一女记者获官方嘉许 (Xinhua News Agency reporter who accused eight individuals who spread early news about coronavirus of “rumor mongering” receives commendation)
Radio Free Asia, March 13, 2020

焦点对话:为武汉人民发声,作家方方遭举报 (Video: “Dialogue”:on writer Fangfang being reported for amplifying voices from Wuhan during coronavirus epidemic)
Voice of America, March 13, 2020

Citizen Participation (公众知情权)

2020年第六届“曹顺利人权捍卫者纪念奖”颁奖公告 (The Sixth “Cao Shunli Human Rights Defenders Memorial Award” is awarded to Mr. Zhang Jianping and Wang Heying)
Weiquanwang, March 13, 2020

湖北多城传有限度解封 应城不满高价菜品爆抗议 (Many Hubei cities are said to have partially lifted restrictions, residents in Yingcheng city protest high vegetables prices)
Radio Free Asia, March 13, 2020

李文亮死微博最后一贴不死 59万人续跟留言筑中国哭墙 (Coronavirus "whistle blower" Li Wenliang's last post on WeChat gets 590,000 comments)
Radio France Internationale, March 13, 2020

Government Accountability (政府问责)

Coronavirus: China’s first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2020

Chinese official Zhao Lijian echoes conspiracy theory that US is to blame for coronavirus outbreak
Agence France Presse, March 13, 2020

中国发表美国人权报告,称美国贫富差距西方之首(China releases U.S. human rights report citing the country’s gap between rich and poor ranks first in the West)
Voice of America, March 13, 2020

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

特朗普签署通信网络法 华为:受害者是美国消费者 (Trump signs bill to bar U.S. telecom operators from using federal funds to purchase communications products, equipment from companies including Huawei and ZTE)
Deutsche Welle, March 13, 2020

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong district councillor worker arrested after dispute over signs targeting gov’t supporters
Hong Kong Free Press, March 13, 2020

612 九個月各區放映會 警旺角截查帶走 6 人 有人燒路障 (Citizens hold district-screenings on nine-month anniversary of June 12, 2019; police clear roadblocks, arrest at least 6)
Stand News, March 13, 2020

Related:
Riot Police Shove Journalists as Hong Kong Marks June 12 Police Violence
Radio Free Asia, March 12, 2020

RTHK chief defends Headliner’s role as satire, but says ‘aspiration to serve’ bonds Hong Kong’s various departments
South China Morning Post, March 12, 2020

Commentary (评论)

Coronavirus: The new and ingenious ways Chinese citizens are evading censorship to learn about the outbreak
Hong Kong Free Press, March 13, 2020