May 8, 2015 — The PRC central government has published the second draft of its national security laws which for the first time specifically mentioned that the Hong Kong government has the responsibility to ensure national security. The draft came at a time when mainland and Hong Kong government officials alike were warning of a growing sentiment of independence in Hong Kong. The document did not specifically spell out any...
Read MoreApril 17, 2015 (China Media Project) — Veteran Chinese journalist Gao Yu (高瑜), 71, was sentenced today to seven years in jail by Beijing’s No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court. She is accused of “illegally providing state secrets beyond [China’s] borders,” a charge stemming, many believe, from the leak in 2013 of the so-called “Document No. 9,” in which the Chinese Communist Party restricted discussion of a range of issues it...
Read MoreJan. 21, 2015 (RTHK) — The Chief Executive, CY Leung, says there are no plans at present to introduce national security laws. Such legislation – against subversion, sedition and treason – is required under Article 23 of the Basic Law. However attempts to introduce it in 2003 were derailed by huge street protests. Mr Leung’s comments come as a local deputy to the National People’s Congress, Ng Chau-pei,...
Read MoreOct. 9, 2014 — The PRC Supreme People’s Court has issued a new judicial interpretation of regulations to provide standardized rules for the handling of trials involving online torts, including defamation and privacy. Xinhua story here Commentary here English and Chinese text of Supreme People’s Court Regulations Concerning Some Questions of Applicable Law in Handling Civil Dispute Cases involving the Use of...
Read More8 August 2014 — In a closely watched case, a Shanghai court sentenced British corporate investigator Peter Humphrey to two-and-a-half years in jail and his American wife Yu Yingzeng to two years for “illegally obtaining private information” in violation of China’s personal data laws. The couple’s firm had been hired by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to investigate bribery allegations in China. It...
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