Top News 头条
This week marks the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the 2019 Hong Kong protest movement, which began with a march of over a million people on June 9. Over the weekend, Hong Kongers and supporters marched in Tokyo and in cities around the world to show their support for the Hong Kong cause.
Ahead of the upcoming 56th session of the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Ms. Irene Khan, published a new report focusing on journalists in exile who face a variety of physical, digital and legal threats. Ms. Khan analyzed the responses of States and companies to these threats and challenges and found that international human rights and refugee law provide a strong framework to protect journalists in exile; however, the failure of States to uphold their international obligations means that the security and safety of journalists in exile remain precarious. HRIC’s own submission to the Special Rapporteur examined the detrimental impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law on the digital rights and Internet freedoms of Hong Kong journalists in diaspora and/or exile, through insider perspectives via a series of interviews. The courage and commitment of exiled Hong Kong journalists must be recognized, encouraged, and celebrated. HRIC urges all stakeholders to continue and deepen effective support for them, as well as promote greater accountability, on a long-term basis.
Law & Policy 法律与政策
2024-2025 Action Plan for the Establishment of the Social Credit System: According to the plan, legislation related to the social credit system will be accelerated, alongside increased regulations for procedures to utilize credit information, raising potential right to privacy issues.
Hong Kong rule of law 'profoundly compromised', says British judge: Two British judges in Hong Kong have resigned after a landmark decision in which 14 democratic activists were convicted for subversion on the basis that the Chinese government’s ability to reverse and change judicial decisions based on policy or fear of dissent compromises Hong Kong’s rule of law.
Related: Top Canadian Judge Steps Down from Hong Kong's Top Court Following Other Resignations. Following a raft of other overseas judges' resignations from the court amid concerns about Hong Kong's judicial independence, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Beverly McLachlin will also be stepping down.
Legal Dialogue, Chinese Style: Chinese legal scholars react carefully to the shutdown of China Judgments Online, as intellectuals navigate strategies to express criticism of the government and judicial system within increasingly limited spaces.
China's regional security officials told to make regime stability a priority: Xi Jinping’s ‘holistic approach to national security’ and ensuring ‘political security’ have been deemed top priority for regional officials, ahead of the ruling Communist Party’s third plenum in July.
Hong Kong Watch publishes in-depth analysis of the business and legal risks associated with Hong Kong’s ‘Article 23’ Safeguarding National Security Ordinance: The new 40-page report highlights the multitude of risks facing businesses, as well as to the legal profession and international NGOs and activists.
Cyber Security & Digital Rights 网络安全与数字权利
NewsBreak: Most downloaded US news app has Chinese roots and 'writes fiction' using AI: A former subsidiary of a Chinese news aggregation app, now billing itself as a local US news app, NewsBreak scrapes the web to post news stories—including completely falsified AI content, such as a piece about a small-town shooting that never happened.
Protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ removed from streaming platforms again: Made popular in 2019 amidst Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrations, “Glory to Hong Kong” has been under fire in recent weeks after a Hong Kong restricted the song. U.S. distributor DistroKid removed the song mere days after it was reuploaded, even though the injunction does not apply extraterritorially.
China’s AI Gambit: Old Tricks for a New Game: By adapting AI to fit its socio-political landscape, China is crafting a technological paradigm to reshape global power dynamics through calculated, strategic use of existing tools.
Mass Censorship on 35th Anniversary of Tiananmen Massacre: Stringent censorship procedures were put in place to quash online mourning. A selection of censored terms uncovered by a Citizen Lab tool uncovered the breadth of the censorship, which has also extended into China’s new AI chatbots and the practices of internet companies.
Related: New “June Fourth” Sensitive Words Reference PLA Medals and Hong Kong Musicians. China Digital Times identified five major categories of censorship that defined the period around June Fourth: forbidden numbers, Hong Kong, dates, music, and sensitive keywords.
Talking Tiananmen with a Chinese Chatbot: China Media Project tested Chinese AI chatbots’ response to questions about the Tiananmen Massacre, only to be met with censorship and programmed cluelessness. However, Chinese developers’ need to use foreign tech leaves potential openings for “forbidden knowledge.”
From beef noodles to bots: Taiwan’s factcheckers on fighting Chinese disinformation and ‘unstoppable’ AI: Taiwan is a major target of Chinese disinformation campaigns, which gives them a unique perspective on fighting the AI propaganda threat. Experts say that ensuring a diverse media environment is key, and bots can actually aid in debunking false claims.
Diaspora Community & Transnational Repression 海外社群和跨国镇压
Hong Kong advocate testified before Canadian House of Commons on Bill C-70 countering foreign interference: Katherine Leung, Policy Advisor for Hong Kong Watch Canada, said some Hong Kongers in Canada “faced job loss or eviction from their homes due to their political opinions,” as part of her testimony in support of Bill C-70 against transnational repression.
A cartoon cat has been vexing China’s censors – now he says they are on his tail: Mr. Li, also known as Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher on Twitter/X, says that he is being targeted by the Chinese government for posting politically sensitive and taboo topics related to China.
China’s crackdown on Tiananmen memorials shows its obsession with security – and growing paranoia: Under Xi Jinping, national security supersedes all other state policies, and Hong Kong’s activists are paying the price.
Hong Kong exiles in UK and Canada lack access to billions of their savings: The Hong Kong government has cut off Hongkongers who left under the British National Overseas (BNO) passport program from withdrawing their money from the city’s mandatory retirement program, despite legal obligations to the contrary.
Human Rights Defenders & Civil Society 人权捍卫者与公民社会
Former ‘little pink’ supporter of Beijing on what made him change: Yang Ruohui says: “if someone with a conscience has access to information about what is really happening, proper news reports, and true history, then the question isn't so much why you oppose the Chinese Communist Party…why don't you oppose it?”
Memories of a Massacre: Recollections of June Fourth Beyond Beijing: Despite authorities’ censorship, memories of June Fourth still persist. On the anniversary, some who lived through the era wrote about their experiences watching the massacre from outside.
Exiled Uyghur journalist links Urumqi arrests to his reporting: Exiled Uyghur journalist Kasim Kashgar, who now reports for Voice of America, regularly covers Uyghur human rights issues. Now, five of his former colleagues have been imprisoned in Xinjiang due to their association with him.
Australian journalist Vicky Xu starts a new life in Taiwan: Xu, a Chinese-born journalist in exile who has faced transnational repression over her role in reporting on forced labor in Xinjiang, discusses her transformation from Party supporter to critic, as well as her new life in Taiwan.
2 protesters told to pay up to HK$1.7m each to cover police officers’ injury-related costs from 2019 demo: The protesters, who pleaded guilty to rioting in 2020 and have already served their jail term, received letters in May to cover the officers’ costs including paid time off, loss of working ability, and legal fees.
4 arrested in Hong Kong over alleged sedition, public disorder and assault on Tiananmen crackdown anniversary: Two men and two women, aged 23 to 69, were arrested on June Fourth near the former site of Hong Kong’s candlelight vigil for Tiananmen. One woman, reportedly activist Alexandra Wong, was apprehended on suspicion of sedition under the city’s new security law, Article 23.
Three arrested in Hong Kong for ‘insulting’ Chinese anthem at World Cup qualifier: Police say the three spectators ‘turned their backs toward the pitch and did not stand for the playing of the national anthem.’
China’s Reach & Internal Control 中国: 内控与外扩
Security tight in Hong Kong and China on Tiananmen crackdown anniversary: Decades after the military crackdown, rights activists say the demonstrators' original goals including a free press and freedom of speech remain distant, and June Fourth is still a taboo topic in China.
Related: Mothers of Tiananmen Square massacre vow victims 'will not be forgotten': “History must not be forgotten, cannot be forgotten, will not be forgotten,” said You Weijie of the Tiananmen Mothers. Meanwhile, thousands of police patrolled the streets in Beijing and Hong Kong, and gatherings were banned at universities.
Beijing dissidents allowed home early due to security funding cuts: Cash-strapped local governments have seen funding for preemptive security measures slashed in recent years.
HSBC closed accounts of jailed 2019 democracy protesters without providing a reason: Several banks in Hong Kong, including HSBC and Hang Seng Bank, recently closed the accounts of individuals arrested during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. This has created significant difficulties for the former protesters, impeding their reintegration into society by making it challenging to secure employment and access financial services, and sparking concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability from the banks involved.
International Responses 国际反应
US lawmakers remember Tiananmen Square massacre: In two separate events, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party remembered the lives lost during June Fourth and pledged Congress’s support for human rights in China. “Today we say in one voice, in a bipartisan fashion: No more silence,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Related: Washington warns of danger from China in remembering the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
Turkish foreign minister discribed Xinjiang cities as historically ‘Turkic and Islamic’ during trip to Xinjiang: On a visit to China this week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described two key cities in Xinjiang as “Turkic and Islamic cities.” Some viewed this as a historic declaration, appearing to reject China’s claim about Xinjiang. Meanwhile, Istanbul saw protests against China for whitewashing its treatment of Uyghurs.
Related: Turkey urges Chinese authorities to protect the cultural rights of minority Muslim Uyghurs: The same foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, urged Chinese authorities to protect the cultural rights of minority Muslim Uyghurs in China’s western Xinjiang province and allow them to “live their values.”
Canadian House of Commons unanimously calls for the release of the Hong Kong 47: The motion noted that “The Hong Kong 47 stands for so many of the values shared by Canadians, most importantly democracy, respect for the rule of law, and standing up for what is right.”
Taiwan’s Lai says Tiananmen ‘will not disappear in torrent of history’: In a written statement, Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te promised that the massacre will not be forgotten, adding that Taiwan would “work hard to make this historical memory last forever.”
35th Tiananmen Anniversary Commemorated Around the World: Outside of China and Hong Kong, events in as many as 18 cities across four continents commemorated June Fourth and reflected on its significance in the present era.