Former reporter of “Beijing Science and Technology News” and food safety popular science author Hong Guangyu was recently taken away by the Liaoning Dalian police in Xiamen, Fujian. According to a self-media figure quoting family sources, Hong Guangyu was criminally detained for alleged “provoking trouble” and is currently detained in Dalian City Detention Center. His defense lawyer’s three requests for meetings have all been denied.
Self-media figure Xiang Dongliang disclosed on September 24th on Weibo that Hong Guangyu’s defense lawyer, holding a letter of authorization entrusted by the family and relevant procedures, visited Dalian City Detention Center on September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th to request meetings with the detainee, but arrangements were not made. By the third application, more than 48 hours had passed since the initial request for a meeting. Xiang Dongliang questioned why the detention center did not allow the lawyer to meet in accordance with the law.
Under Article 39 of the Criminal Procedure Law formulated by the Chinese Communist Party, when a defense lawyer presents materials such as a lawyer’s practicing certificate, law firm certificate, and letter of authorization to request a meeting with a detained suspect, the detention center should arrange it promptly, not exceeding 48 hours. The specific processing time of the three applications mentioned by Xiang Dongliang, reasons given by the detention center, and whether the lawyer has met with Hong Guangyu are yet to be confirmed directly by the defense lawyer.
Human rights lawyer Hu questioned whether the Dalian police, taking Hong Guangyu in Xiamen, had jurisdiction over the case and followed proper procedures for cross-regional investigations. He said: “Now that the person has been taken to Dalian for detention, if the family has entrusted a lawyer to act as an agent and the detention center does not allow the lawyer to see Hong Guangyu, he cannot sign on the authorization letter. This is an interference by the detention center with the legitimate rights of the detainee, a very cunning move.”
Mr. Liu, a human rights lawyer from Guangdong, also stated that when the Dalian police handle cases across provinces, they must first clarify jurisdiction and have the necessary procedures. “In the past, there have been disputes over jurisdiction between the Beijing and Yunnan police in cross-provincial arrests of drug offenders, eventually being coordinated by the Ministry of Public Security.”
Hong Guangyu, a former reporter for “Beijing Science and Technology News,” has been long dedicated to food safety and has written numerous popular science articles. Screenshots shared by Xiang Dongliang indicate that Hong Guangyu was also involved in communicating food and nutrition science. Following his being taken away by the Dalian police in Xiamen, the event has stirred up attention in the media and legal circles: why would a prominent figure in food science writing become the subject of a cross-provincial investigation by the Dalian police?
On September 27th, the civil rights organization “People’s Observation” listed Hong Guangyu as one of the media figures taken away in the case of the Dalian cherry growers’ agricultural rights dispute and stated that he had spoken up for the growers. The organization recorded his removal on September 18th, while Xiang Dongliang revealed the date of criminal detention as September 19th. Lawyer Hu mentioned, “These may refer to different times for being taken away and formally criminally detained.”
Dalian is one of the major cherry production areas in mainland China. Previously, some local cherry growers reported mass deaths of cherry trees after using pesticides sold by local companies. They raised objections to the product quality and the local authorities’ investigation conclusions, seeking rights protection through lawsuits, reports, and other means. People’s Observation reported that in September this year, several growers and a proxy lawyer were successively taken away by the Dalian police.
Ms. He, a cherry grower in Shilibao, Dalian, told reporters that after some of the cherry growers used local pesticides, numerous cherry trees died, leading them to sue the factory through a lawyer. “Many cherry trees have died, and many growers want to investigate what problems the pesticide has. We hired people for testing, but they did not allow it. The testing laboratory only lets the government carry out tests, not accepting private testing and appraisal. Everyone sought legal representation and asked for media attention. We don’t know what Hong Guangyu is accused of.”
On September 26th, representatives of some growers in Dalian jointly issued a statement requesting a re-investigation into agricultural products and the cause of cherry tree deaths, as well as ensuring the rights of detainees to meet with lawyers. They also demanded a review of related criminal measures and account freezes. As of now, the Dalian authorities have yet to provide a public explanation for the farmers’ queries and whether Hong Guangyu is related to this case.