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.