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, October 20, 2017

Access to Justice (司法公正)

UN tells China to release human rights activists and pay them compensation
The Guardian, October 20, 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/20/un-china-report-release-human-rights-activists-pay-compensation

Chinese police detain, “disappear” dozens of rights activists, petitioners
Radio Free Asia, October 19, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/congress-disappeared-10192017133618.html

党的十九大新闻中心举行首场集体采访 关注推进全面依法治国 (19th party congress press center hosts first group interview focusing on promoting “Comprehensively Ruling the Country by Law”)
Xinhua News Agency, October 19, 2017
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/19cpcnc/2017-10/19/c_1121827924.htm

读懂十九大报告中全面推进依法治国的新内涵 (To understand new connotation of “Comprehensively Ruling the Country by Law” in 19th party congress report)
Legal Daily, October 19, 2017
http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/commentary/content/2017-10/19/content_7362278.htm?node=34251

Access to Information (信息公开)

中宣部副部長孫志軍:高度重視宣傳思想文化工作 (Propaganda deputy Sun Zhijun: Party attaches great importance to propaganda, thinking, and culture work)
Radio Television Hong Kong, October 20, 2017
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1360287-20171020.htm

Government Accountability (政府问责)

A kinder, gentler new anti-corruption system for China?
South China Morning Post, October 20, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2116151/kinder-gentler-new-anti-graft-system-china

China says hopes U.S. can abandon bias, view China objectively
Reuters, October 19, 2017
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-india-tillerson-china/china-says-hopes-u-s-can-abandon-bias-view-china-objectively-idUSKBN1CO0VS

中国官员将林肯废奴与中共废西藏农奴制相比较 (Chinese official compares Lincoln emancipating slaves with CPC eradicating serfdom in Tibet)
Radio Free Asia, October 19, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/shaoshuminzu/nu-10192017112155.html

ICTs and Human Rights (信息技术与人权)

“刷脸”作证:广州现全国首例证人通过微信小程序远程作证案 (First case of witness giving testimony remotely using WeChat facial recognition function takes place in Guangzhou)
The Paper, October 19, 2017
http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1830867

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong soccer fans’ booing of China's national anthem soon to be illegal
Radio Free Asia, October 20, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-anthem-10192017150227.html

If you think protest is finished in Hong Kong, think again
The Economist, October 19, 2017
https://www.economist.com/news/china/21730411-next-stand-could-be-uglier-if-you-think-protest-finished-hong-kong-think-again

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho urges HKU Council to suspend Occupy protest leader Benny Tai
Hong Kong Free Press, October 19, 2017
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/10/19/pro-beijing-lawmaker-junius-ho-urges-hku-council-suspend-occupy-protest-leader-benny-tai/

李飛指追溯期由人大常委會決定 法律學者斥毀一國兩制 (Li Fei says NPC decides whether National Anthem Law will be retroactive; law scholar criticizes it as ruining “One Country, Two Systems”)
HK01, October 18, 2017
https://www.hk01.com/港聞/126854/-國歌法-李飛指追溯期由人大常委會決定-法律學者斥毀一國兩制

Commentary (评论)

香港被全面管治新時代 (A new era of Hong Kong under comprehensive control)
Mingpao, October 20, 2017
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20171020/s00022/1508420929951

Jailing of Hong Kong democracy activists a failure to uphold international law
South China Morning Post, October 20, 2017
http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2116227/jailing-hong-kong-democracy-activists-failure-uphold