Nicola Macbean
@nicolamacbean.bsky.social
Founding Director of The Rights Practice. Human rights, especially China.
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
State-backed Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao has taken down an investigative report published on 28 Nov which cited industry sources saying building maintenance works effectively controlled by cartel, rife with corrupt practices in tender process, widespread cost and corner-cutting in materials.
November 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
State-backed Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao has taken down an investigative report published on 28 Nov which cited industry sources saying building maintenance works effectively controlled by cartel, rife with corrupt practices in tender process, widespread cost and corner-cutting in materials.
Sigh. Deeply predictable from Beijing national security.
Beijing's nat. sec office in HK has shown support for local authorities against “anti-China disruptors” allegedly seeking to co-opt the deadly Tai Po fire to incite resentment against the government. In full: buff.ly/lvXA7nu
Beijing nat. sec office backs HK gov't's actions against 'anti-China disruptors'
Beijing's nat. sec office in HK has shown support for local authorities against “anti-China disruptors” allegedly seeking to co-opt the deadly Tai Po fire to incite resentment against the government.
buff.ly
November 29, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Sigh. Deeply predictable from Beijing national security.
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
The HK authorities arrested a student on sedition charges because he made a petition asking the government to 1) ensure accommodation for displaced residents; 2) setup independent investigation; 3) review construction supervision system 4) probe regulatory neglect.
hongkongfp.com/2025/11/30/h...
hongkongfp.com/2025/11/30/h...
HK man arrested for alleged sedition in relation to fatal Tai Po blaze
A HK man has been arrested on suspicion of sedition in relation to the fatal Tai Po fire, according to local media reports, citing unnamed sources.
hongkongfp.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The HK authorities arrested a student on sedition charges because he made a petition asking the government to 1) ensure accommodation for displaced residents; 2) setup independent investigation; 3) review construction supervision system 4) probe regulatory neglect.
hongkongfp.com/2025/11/30/h...
hongkongfp.com/2025/11/30/h...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
The demands being distributed by the flyer & petition were not in anyway unreasonable.
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
Inmediahk reports that HK university student Miles Kwan, who was seen handing out fliers linking to a petition demanding an independent investigation and accountability for the Tai Po fire was detained and taken to the police station. The online petition and related media has since been deleted.
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The demands being distributed by the flyer & petition were not in anyway unreasonable.
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
1. Continue to support residents affected by the fire
2. Establish an independent commission
3. Re-evaluate construction safety guidelines
4. Hold the elected officials who are accountable for this disaster
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
HK Police Nat-Sec Department arrest 1 man & 1 woman for allegedly posting seditious messages on social media. Arrested identified as owner of pro-democracy eatery "HK9Cake" owner & girlfriend.
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
HK Police Nat-Sec Department arrest 1 man & 1 woman for allegedly posting seditious messages on social media. Arrested identified as owner of pro-democracy eatery "HK9Cake" owner & girlfriend.
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
Uyghur student #KamileWayit, Uyghur songwriter #YasharShohret and filmmaker #ChenPinlin remain imprisoned today simply for exercising their basic rights to freedom and expression.
#BlankPaper
🔗 www.nchrd.org/2024/11/beij...
#BlankPaper
🔗 www.nchrd.org/2024/11/beij...
November 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Uyghur student #KamileWayit, Uyghur songwriter #YasharShohret and filmmaker #ChenPinlin remain imprisoned today simply for exercising their basic rights to freedom and expression.
#BlankPaper
🔗 www.nchrd.org/2024/11/beij...
#BlankPaper
🔗 www.nchrd.org/2024/11/beij...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
There's been no execution in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 for a week.
In a year when the Saudi authorities have executed 322 people – more than one a day.
When the world is watching, they pause their killing spree.
1/3 - 🧵
In a year when the Saudi authorities have executed 322 people – more than one a day.
When the world is watching, they pause their killing spree.
1/3 - 🧵
![[Left:] President Trump and [right:] Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wc3nj73cm4hwq7yj7r3kuu2f/bafkreih37p7eic7frkzz6bty2k7vlpdqvooqcnzq4ke7mhhk2ucfwohxpy@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
There's been no execution in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 for a week.
In a year when the Saudi authorities have executed 322 people – more than one a day.
When the world is watching, they pause their killing spree.
1/3 - 🧵
In a year when the Saudi authorities have executed 322 people – more than one a day.
When the world is watching, they pause their killing spree.
1/3 - 🧵
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
#China: Today, the Beijing High Court upheld a 7 year prison sentence against prominent journalist Dong Yuyu on trumped-up spying charges. His only "crime" was maintaining contact with foreign diplomats. RSF is appalled by this decision and calls for his immediate release. #FreeDongYuyu
China: prominent journalist Dong Yuyu sentenced to prison on bogus espionage charges
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the release of Dong Yuyu, a prominent Chinese journalist sentenced to seven years in prison on trumped-up accusations of espionage. He is one of 123 journalis...
rsf.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
#China: Today, the Beijing High Court upheld a 7 year prison sentence against prominent journalist Dong Yuyu on trumped-up spying charges. His only "crime" was maintaining contact with foreign diplomats. RSF is appalled by this decision and calls for his immediate release. #FreeDongYuyu
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
For those in London next Fri, please join us for this fantastic event, organised by the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, in partnership with PEN International
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
Join the Independent Chinese PEN Centre with PEN International for “Chinese Prisons and International War: The 2025 ICPC Awards and Panel Discussions” on 14 November 2025, 1–5 PM.
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
Tickets available now ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chinese-pr...
#DayOfTheImprisonedWriter
November 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
For those in London next Fri, please join us for this fantastic event, organised by the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, in partnership with PEN International
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
May be of interest to your networks: @ppoon.bsky.social, @nicolamacbean.bsky.social, @taniabranigan.bsky.social,
@pm-thornton.bsky.social
This is one of the more egregious examples of Chinese threats to academic freedom to research that I have come across. Universities need - collectively - to bring these issues into the open.
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show
Sheffield Hallam University apologises to Professor Laura Murphy for restricting her academic freedom.
www.bbc.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This is one of the more egregious examples of Chinese threats to academic freedom to research that I have come across. Universities need - collectively - to bring these issues into the open.
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...
China intimidated UK university to ditch human rights research, documents show www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
This will probably sound like an arcane UK academia story, but a lot of what we know about forced labor in China has been brought to light specifically by Laura and her collaborators. The purpose is to shut down this information.
November 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
This will probably sound like an arcane UK academia story, but a lot of what we know about forced labor in China has been brought to light specifically by Laura and her collaborators. The purpose is to shut down this information.
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
今天是吾甫尔·阿皮孜（ shahit.biz/cmn/2111/ ）去世七周年纪念日。他于2016年被强迫失踪，据称被判处十年徒刑。
2020年，中国政府确认他死于“严重肺炎和结核病”。他当时63岁。(1/2)
2020年，中国政府确认他死于“严重肺炎和结核病”。他当时63岁。(1/2)
条目 2111： Ghopur Hapiz
Abdughopur Hapiz（有时称为“ Abdughopur Sidiq”）是喀什的一位退休司机和企业主。地址：公寓新疆喀什市大中路兴新花苑社区7单元111号，邮编844000。中国护照：E31781359。
shahit.biz
November 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
今天是吾甫尔·阿皮孜（ shahit.biz/cmn/2111/ ）去世七周年纪念日。他于2016年被强迫失踪，据称被判处十年徒刑。
2020年，中国政府确认他死于“严重肺炎和结核病”。他当时63岁。(1/2)
2020年，中国政府确认他死于“严重肺炎和结核病”。他当时63岁。(1/2)
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
#EnforcedDisappearance
Since #China govt intercepted activist #YinXuan in #Beijing on August 11 and forcibly sent him back to Hubei, he has remained disappeared. His family and lawyer have visited multiple local authorities—no one will say where he is.
Via wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/10/blog...
Since #China govt intercepted activist #YinXuan in #Beijing on August 11 and forcibly sent him back to Hubei, he has remained disappeared. His family and lawyer have visited multiple local authorities—no one will say where he is.
Via wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/10/blog...
人权捍卫者 #尹旭安 仍被强迫失踪，他自8月11日晚在北京被拦截遣返，至今音讯全无！
据维权网报道，受尹旭安家属委托，今日律师到大冶保安镇寻找尹旭安。律师在保安镇政法委、综合办问询无果后，不得已到纪检投诉保安镇政法委书记徐跃飞非法拘禁；纪检人员说这种情况不归他们管，让去派出所报案，律师随即到保安派出所报人口失踪，派出所接警人员不认可报人口失踪并不给出具报警回执；经过沟通，大冶督察答应会督促保安镇派出所出具报警回执，当律师返回派出所，值班警察躲着不见，之前答应给予回复的派出所领导也以外出开会名义无法见到。
wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/10/blog...
据维权网报道，受尹旭安家属委托，今日律师到大冶保安镇寻找尹旭安。律师在保安镇政法委、综合办问询无果后，不得已到纪检投诉保安镇政法委书记徐跃飞非法拘禁；纪检人员说这种情况不归他们管，让去派出所报案，律师随即到保安派出所报人口失踪，派出所接警人员不认可报人口失踪并不给出具报警回执；经过沟通，大冶督察答应会督促保安镇派出所出具报警回执，当律师返回派出所，值班警察躲着不见，之前答应给予回复的派出所领导也以外出开会名义无法见到。
wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/10/blog...
October 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM
#EnforcedDisappearance
Since #China govt intercepted activist #YinXuan in #Beijing on August 11 and forcibly sent him back to Hubei, he has remained disappeared. His family and lawyer have visited multiple local authorities—no one will say where he is.
Via wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/10/blog...
Since #China govt intercepted activist #YinXuan in #Beijing on August 11 and forcibly sent him back to Hubei, he has remained disappeared. His family and lawyer have visited multiple local authorities—no one will say where he is.
Via wqw2010.blogspot.com/2025/10/blog...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
You may have heard about UK ministers' plan to double to 10 years the time needed to reached settled status in the UK. But did you realise that it threatened access to pensions for the 180,000 people who came from Hong Kong on the UK government's visa scheme? My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/8b91...
UK Hongkongers rue the rockiness of their ‘lifeboat’ after threatened visa changes
People who fled Chinese territory are angry after London looks at doubling length of time required to gain citizenship
www.ft.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:21 AM
You may have heard about UK ministers' plan to double to 10 years the time needed to reached settled status in the UK. But did you realise that it threatened access to pensions for the 180,000 people who came from Hong Kong on the UK government's visa scheme? My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/8b91...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
'There was a constructive discussion about the reasons for the recent dropping of charges against two individuals under the Official Secrets Act. Committees will now be considering what further action to take.' committees.parliament.uk/committee/11...
Update on select committee work relating to China spy case - Committees - UK Parliament
The Chairs of the Home Affairs Committee, Justice Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, and the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Intelligence and Securi...
committees.parliament.uk
October 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
'There was a constructive discussion about the reasons for the recent dropping of charges against two individuals under the Official Secrets Act. Committees will now be considering what further action to take.' committees.parliament.uk/committee/11...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
NEW
What the Chinese spying case witness statements reveal
The Crown Prosecution Service appears to have made at least one serious error, while the government's position now makes sense
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-the-c...
What the Chinese spying case witness statements reveal
The Crown Prosecution Service appears to have made at least one serious error, while the government's position now makes sense
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-the-c...
October 16, 2025 at 9:54 AM
NEW
What the Chinese spying case witness statements reveal
The Crown Prosecution Service appears to have made at least one serious error, while the government's position now makes sense
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-the-c...
What the Chinese spying case witness statements reveal
The Crown Prosecution Service appears to have made at least one serious error, while the government's position now makes sense
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/what-the-c...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
Today, a coalition of 90 NGOs including The Rights Practice is calling for the release of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai on the 10th anniversary of his kidnapping by Chinese agents in Thailand. Gui has been disappeared by China, with no updates about his whereabouts for past 5 yrs tinyurl.com/5n7mj6hd
Joint statement: Arbitrary detention of Gui Minhai
On 15 October 2025, The Rights Practice, and 89 other NGOs, issued a joint statement to strongly condemn the Chinese government's ongoing arbitrary detention of Swedish publisher and writer Gui Minhai...
www.rights-practice.org
October 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Today, a coalition of 90 NGOs including The Rights Practice is calling for the release of Swedish publisher Gui Minhai on the 10th anniversary of his kidnapping by Chinese agents in Thailand. Gui has been disappeared by China, with no updates about his whereabouts for past 5 yrs tinyurl.com/5n7mj6hd
The interview with Lu Pin is a welcome reminder of a more open and questioning China.
Showing my age, I remember the NGO forum at the Women’s Conference. In 1994 we also ran an amazing summer school in Beijing for young Chinese women. I wonder what those women are doing now.
Showing my age, I remember the NGO forum at the Women’s Conference. In 1994 we also ran an amazing summer school in Beijing for young Chinese women. I wonder what those women are doing now.
2/3 Read our interview with Lü Pin, who attended that 1995 conference as a young reporter and went on to found Feminist Voices—China's leading feminist platform until authorities shut it down in 2018. chinamediaproject.org/2024/05/09/a...
A Feminist Odyssey - China Media Project
One of the pioneers of China’s feminist movement opens up about her experience as a journalist for state media and how the movement has adapted in the years since her outlet Feminist Voices was shut d...
chinamediaproject.org
October 13, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The interview with Lu Pin is a welcome reminder of a more open and questioning China.
Showing my age, I remember the NGO forum at the Women’s Conference. In 1994 we also ran an amazing summer school in Beijing for young Chinese women. I wonder what those women are doing now.
Showing my age, I remember the NGO forum at the Women’s Conference. In 1994 we also ran an amazing summer school in Beijing for young Chinese women. I wonder what those women are doing now.
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
🚨 October 17 marks the tenth anniversary of Swedish publisher #GuiMinhai ’s initial #EnforcedDisappearance by #China authorities in Thailand. His current whereabouts and wellbeing remain unknown.
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/10/chin...
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/10/chin...
October 13, 2025 at 8:34 AM
🚨 October 17 marks the tenth anniversary of Swedish publisher #GuiMinhai ’s initial #EnforcedDisappearance by #China authorities in Thailand. His current whereabouts and wellbeing remain unknown.
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/10/chin...
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/10/chin...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
1/ Today, 10 October, marks World Day Against the Death Penalty. This year, World Day is dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer. #NoDeathPenalty
October 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
1/ Today, 10 October, marks World Day Against the Death Penalty. This year, World Day is dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer. #NoDeathPenalty
On World Day Against the Death Penalty I was pleased to introduce a webinar organised by prisonersrights.org/english/ on the death penalty in Asia and contribution of www.klguidelines.com
@rightspractice.bsky.social was pleased to have helped facilitate drafting of the KL Guidelines.
@rightspractice.bsky.social was pleased to have helped facilitate drafting of the KL Guidelines.
About us | NPO法人 監獄人権センター
About us NPO法人監獄人権センターは、刑事拘禁施設の人権状況を国際水準に合致するよう改善していくこと、死刑制度を廃止すること等を目的として活動しています。
prisonersrights.org
October 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
On World Day Against the Death Penalty I was pleased to introduce a webinar organised by prisonersrights.org/english/ on the death penalty in Asia and contribution of www.klguidelines.com
@rightspractice.bsky.social was pleased to have helped facilitate drafting of the KL Guidelines.
@rightspractice.bsky.social was pleased to have helped facilitate drafting of the KL Guidelines.
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
1/ On 3 October 2025, UN experts expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the independence of judges and prosecutors in Hong Kong www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
UN experts condemn reprisals against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam
GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the in...
www.ohchr.org
October 3, 2025 at 9:46 AM
1/ On 3 October 2025, UN experts expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the independence of judges and prosecutors in Hong Kong www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
Here's a genuine risk to free speech in UK universities – from overseas states – that the government is doing little to prevent. @indexoncensorship.org have highlited the case of Roshaan Khattak, a Pakistani human rights defender and film maker:
www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/10/inde...
www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/10/inde...
Index joins call for robust protections against transnational repression in the higher education sector - Index on Censorship
Film maker and postgrad researcher Roshaan Khattak was targeted after researching enforced disappearances in Balochistan
www.indexoncensorship.org
October 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Here's a genuine risk to free speech in UK universities – from overseas states – that the government is doing little to prevent. @indexoncensorship.org have highlited the case of Roshaan Khattak, a Pakistani human rights defender and film maker:
www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/10/inde...
www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/10/inde...
Reposted by Nicola Macbean
#Malaysia #Thailand: We join PEN Malaysia in expressing concern over the arrest of writer & journalist #MurrayHunter by the Thai police, reportedly at the behest of the Malaysian authorities. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia must reflect on the signal this sends. abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
Australian says he was improperly arrested in Thailand over his criticism of Malaysia
An Australian man arrested in Thailand on a defamation charge he says originated with Malaysia's government claims he is a victim of transnational repression, in which Southeast Asia countries coopera...
abcnews.go.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
#Malaysia #Thailand: We join PEN Malaysia in expressing concern over the arrest of writer & journalist #MurrayHunter by the Thai police, reportedly at the behest of the Malaysian authorities. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia must reflect on the signal this sends. abcnews.go.com/Internationa...
A lovely reflection on Jerry’s life and engagement with the law and China. It was a privilege to know him. China’s most optimistic critic
economist.com/china/2025/0...
from The Economist
economist.com/china/2025/0...
from The Economist
China’s most optimistic critic
Jerome Cohen kept a liberal vision of China alive
economist.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:41 AM
A lovely reflection on Jerry’s life and engagement with the law and China. It was a privilege to know him. China’s most optimistic critic
economist.com/china/2025/0...
from The Economist
economist.com/china/2025/0...
from The Economist