H.K. reporter sentenced for spying in China launches appeal

HONG KONG, Sept. 8 Kyodo

Hong Kong reporter Ching Cheong has appealed a five-year sentence handed down by a Chinese court last week for spying, a supporter's group member confirmed Friday.

David Hui, spokesman for the Ching Cheong Incident Concern Group, told Kyodo News Ching's lawyer has submitted the appeal documents to the Beijing High Court and a judgment or a court appearance is due within four to 10 weeks.

''A court appearance is not a must, the court can simply make a decision within that period,'' Hui said.

A Hong Kong's Cable TV news report quoted sources as saying the appeal document denied all accusations in the judgment and asking for a withdrawal of the espionage conviction or a reduced sentence.

Ching, working for Singapore's Straits Times when he was detained in southern Chinese city Guangzhou in April last year, was convicted of spying for a foundation in Taiwan, supplying information while knowing it is a spy agency.

Ching was deprived of political rights for a year and personal property valued at 300,000 yuan (about $37,600) was confiscated plus a HK$300,000 ($38,900) fine was levied.

Ching's wife, Mary Lau, defended his innocence and love for the country and said the court has not taken into consideration evidence in favor of the defense.

There is no mention in the report if the Beijing court accepted the appeal.

Ching had traveled to Guangzhou to collect information connected with purged Chinese Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang, who died in January while under house arrest for sympathizing with Tiananmen Square demonstrators in 1989.

Ching had worked for Hong Kong's pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po from 1981 to 1989 as its bureau chief in Beijing. He reportedly left the paper in protest after the Tiananmen crackdown and had worked for The Straits Times since 1996.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning