| The wife of jailed journalist Ching Cheong
yesterday called on the Hong Kong government to
fight for her husband's freedom as she considered
lobbying support overseas.
Fellow journalist Mary Lau Man-yee said she also
planned to raise Ching's case with National People's
Congress chairman Wu Bangguo during his three-day
visit from next Saturday.
She said she may seek support overseas as a last
resort if a petition and attempts to seek medical
parole failed.
Lau said her family was shocked when they learned
of the unjust verdict.
No matter what the verdict is, it will not change
our belief in his innocence, she said, adding:
History will prove his innocence.
The Beijing Supreme People's Court had been
biased in upholding the verdict of the lower court,
which was full of loopholes and based on
insufficient evidence, she said.
This had cast doubts over the independence of the
mainland judicial system, as well as raising
concerns it had been a political trial, said Lau,
who hopes to travel to Beijing to visit her husband.
Ching's brothers, now in Beijing, would fly back
to Hong Kong in the next few days, when they would
put together a more detailed action plan.
This could include asking Chief Executive Donald
Tsang Yam-kuen to raise the issue with President Hu
Jintao in Beijing next month.
She reiterated the family's request that the Hong
Kong government help them fight for Ching's release
and demand a medical check-up for him as he was in
poor health.
The family will meet Security Bureau officials
next week.
Ching Cheong Incident Concern Group spokesman Hui
Tin-fook, expressing regret and disappointment at
the verdict, said: When needed, we shall organise
some fund-raising activities to raise money to
support Mrs Ching's tour.
Ong Yew-kim, an expert in mainland law at the
Chinese University, said the most viable options for
the family were to seek medical parole and draft a
petition.
He urged the Hong Kong government and Mr Tsang to
take a more active role.
The government said it was very concerned about
the case and had conveyed to the central government
the requests and appeals of the family and other
parties.
It pledged to liaise with the authorities and
inform the family of any developments.
Journalists' organisations said the decision
would have a chilling effect on reporters working on
the mainland.
The Hong Kong News Executives' Association said
it put enormous pressure on local journalists who
might be charged with spying too.
We hope the government can clarify that to ease
any doubt, the association said.
Christopher Warren, of the International
Federation Journalists, said: The case of Ching
is a litmus test for press freedom in China, which
the Chinese authorities have dismally failed.
Hong Kong Journalists Association president
Serenade Woo Lai-wan expressed disappointment and
said the group would raise the issue with the United
Nations.
Copyright (c) 2000. South China Morning Post
Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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