Forty-five legislators from various political camps have signed a petition to be submitted to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao demanding medical parole for jailed Hong Kong-based journalist Ching Cheong.
Ching, 57, formerly chief China correspondent for Singapore's The Straits Times, had his appeal against conviction and a five-year jail sentence for spying for Taiwan thrown out by a top Beijing court last month.
The lawmakers comprise all 25 from the pro-democracy camp, nine from the Liberal Party, six from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Federation of Trade Unions, two from The Alliance, independents Daniel Lam Wai- keung and Li Fung-ying, and executive councillor and banker David Li Kwok- po.
The petition said: ``We, 45 members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong SAR, sincerely request that the relevant authorities free Ching on humanitarian grounds and allow him to return to Hong Kong for further treatment.'' Democrat Cheung Man-kwong said the petition has been submitted to the Chief Executive's Office for delivery to Beijing.