A full half year – Ching Cheong in detention
An Appeal by the Ching Cheong Incident Concern Group
October 22, 2005

October 22nd marks six months’ forceful detention of Ching Cheong, the HK-based senior journalist of Singapore’s Straits Times, who has been confined in China. The last official news was dated August 5th when a Xinhua News Agency reporter, having “consolidated information from various government departments’ sources”, reported that Ching Cheong was arrested by the Beijing National Security Bureau for allegedly committing spying activities. There has since been no more official news on the incident, causing much perplexity among those concerned for Ching Cheong.

Ching Cheong had been forcefully put under surveillance and confinement for a full half year today, which included over two months’ questioning and interrogation by China’s various law enforcing departments. It is not difficult to imagine what a painful ordeal this must have been for a suspect of such serious allegations, what an uphill battle this must have been for one lone individual facing the onslaught of the entire state apparatus. That is why in countries with more advanced legal systems work is constantly done to ensure protection for a suspect’s basic rights to legal access and fair treatment. But unfortunately for Ching Cheong legal access was denied, and even the humanitarian treatment of family visits was not readily allowed. Despite Chinese officials’ verbal repetitions that Ching Cheong’s case would be dealt with “according to the law”, the actual circumstances surrounding Ching Cheong have left people concerned about him bitterly confused.

On the occasion of Ching Cheong’s half-year forceful confinement, we appeal again to the authorities to consider the following:

1. It is unreasonable to forcefully detained Ching Cheong in isolation from any outside contact for such a long time. He should be allowed to receive visits by the HKSAR officials and his family on a regular basis.
   
2. Personal freedom, communication freedom as well as legal access and representation are basic rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Since China is a signatory of the International Covenant, the government should ensure that it honors its commitments to the international community and its citizens, and strives to bring itself up to the standard with the countries’ of more advanced legal systems. Ching Cheong is facing serious allegations without any access to legal support, he should be allowed to freely recruit and contact lawyers to ensure that his legal rights are protected.
   
3. We appeal to the authorities to fully recognize Ching Cheong’s long-time commitment to national unification and the “One Country, Two Systems” principle. According to information revealed by official sources, the alleged “crime’’ concerns activities involving communication and interaction across the straits. Based on our understanding, such activities are becoming quite common these days with a good number of people taking part. We sincerely hope that in handling the Ching Cheong incident by the relevant government departments, consideration would be given to the use of different yardsticks under ‘One Country, Two Systems’ so as to arrive at a more accommodating assessment of the case.
   
4. We appeal to the authorities to respond favorably to this public concern, and if there have not been any actual damages to national security the authorities should set Ching Cheong free as soon as possible.

We are a group of Hong Kong University alumni and friends who have known Ching Cheong for many years. We wholeheartedly hope that he would be cleared of the alleged offences, regain his freedom, and come home to his family in Hong Kong very soon.