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, March 07, 2016

Access to Information (信息公开)

China shuts down 28,000 illegal websites in national crackdown
Xinhua News, March 4, 2016
http://english.sina.com/news/2016/0304/895556.html

Related:
China to build democratic, transparent Internet governance system: draft outline
Xinhua News, March 5, 2016
http://english.sina.com/news/2016/0304/895748.html

China bans depictions of gay people on television
The Guardian, March 4, 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/04/china-bans-gay-people-television-clampdown-xi-jinping-censorship

Citizen Participation (公民参与)

中国民间联署促人大调查抓捕事件 (Chinese civic groups jointly petition to urge NPC to investigate the mass crackdown)
Voice of America, March 6, 2016
http://www.voachinese.com/content/china-lawyer-20160306/3221717.html

Government Accountability (政府问责)

China corruption crackdown “netted 300,000 in 2015”
British Broadcasting Corporation, March 7, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35741357

Hong Kong (香港)

Beijing will not sit by and watch push for Hong Kong independence, top adviser warns
South China Morning Post, March 4, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1920882/beijing-will-not-sit-and-watch-push-hong-kong-independence

Related:
Central authority to follow Constitution, Basic Law of HK, Macao: Top legislator
Xinhua News, March 6, 2016
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016twosession/2016-03/06/content_23761020.htm

Hong Kong localist’s vote haul in by-election points to further splits in radical groups at Legco polls
South China Morning Post, March 4, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1920904/hong-kong-localists-vote-haul-election-points-further-splits

China warns Hong Kong not to politicize issues
Sina, March 6, 2016
http://english.sina.com/china/p/2016/0306/895945.html

Related:
“Street politics could tarnish Hong Kong’s image,” NPC chairman Zhang Dejiang warns
张德江对旺角骚乱感“惊讶“ 吁港不要诉诸“街头政治”
South China Morning Post, March 7, 2016
EN: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1921782/street-politics-could-tarnish-hong-kongs-image-npc-chairman
CH: http://www.nanzao.com/sc/national/1535035bcba363f/zhang-de-jiang-dui-wang-jiao-sao-luan-gan-jing-ya-yu-gang-bu-yao-su-zhu-jie-tou-zheng-zhi-

Chair change shows Hong Kong deputies no longer in the driving seat at National People’s Congress
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1921753/chair-change-shows-hong-kong-deputies-no-longer-driving-seat

“Missing” bookseller Lui Por back in Hong Kong: government
Hong Kong Free Press, March 4, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/04/missing-bookseller-lui-por-back-in-hong-kong-government/

Related:
Dissident poet turns sleuth to uncover disappearance of bookseller friend Gui Minhai
South China Morning Post, March 6, 2016
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1921339/dissident-poet-turns-sleuth-uncover-disappearance

University student unions to sell “banned” books in protest of detained booksellers
Hong Kong Free Press, March 7, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/07/university-student-unions-to-sell-banned-books-in-protest-of-detained-booksellers/

Absence of HK tourism from China 5-year plan “reasonable” after anti-tourist sentiment—ex-Lecgo Pres.
Hong Kong Free Press, March 7, 2016
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/03/07/absence-of-hk-tourism-from-china-5-year-plan-reasonable-after-anti-tourist-sentiment/

Opinion and Editorial (观点和社论)

香港需要更多梁天琦 (Hong Kong needs more Edward Leungs)
InMedia HK, March 7, 2016
http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1041091