NEWSWORTHY: Journalists waiting outside Mr Ching Cheong's home, close to the Chinese border in Hong Kong, yesterday as news of his release circulated. -- PHOTO: AFP

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But at about 8am, a warden at the prison in southern China told him to pack his belongings.

'My first thoughts then was that I would either be released or transferred to another prison,' Mr Ching told The Straits Times in a telephone interview last night.

It turned out to be the good news that he and his family members had been waiting for - he was being released on parole and would return to Hong Kong.

'I was shocked, but at the same time, pleasantly surprised,' said Mr Ching, who stepped out of the prison at about 10am after completing the paperwork.

At 11.10am, he boarded a train bound for Hong Kong, and met his wife and family members at around 2pm. It was an emotional reunion for the freed Straits Times journalist.

Dressed in a purple long- sleeved shirt and dark-blue trousers, the 58-year-old cried as he hugged his 82-year-old mother, who had been pining for his return since he was first detained in April 2005.

'Ching Cheong cried when he saw his mother,' said his wife, Ms Mary Lau, 56. 'Both of them cried.'

Mr Ching was arrested in 2005 on suspicion of selling state secrets to Taiwan, and was given a five-year jail sentence in August 2006 after a one-day hearing.

An appeal against the sentence was rejected three months later, and the family began lobbying for him to be released on medical parole.

The journalist has an irregular heartbeat and suffers from high blood pressure and stomach problems. There had been fears that he might develop colon cancer but fortunately, the polyps disappeared.

Ms Lau said she was caught completely unawares by the sudden turn of events yesterday.

Recounting the rapid chain of events, she said she dashed out of her home right after being told about her husband's release by a Hong Kong government official around 11am.

Mr Ching met his family members at an undisclosed meeting place at about 2pm, according to Ms Lau, who had been allowed to visit her husband every month during his incarceration in southern China. They have been married for 25 years and do not have any children.

The family, however, had to quickly put aside their tears and emotions as Mr Ching wanted to draft a letter to thank those who helped secure his release, as well as speak with Straits Times Editor Han Fook Kwang.

It was only late in the evening that he could settle down to a long-awaited reunion dinner with 17 of his family members.

As hordes of journalists were camped outside Mr Ching's home, the family decided to eat out at a restaurant in town instead - dining on oysters, vegetables, chicken and suckling pig.

Ms Lau said the family has no plans to hold a press conference any time soon, adding that the priority now is for her husband to get some well-deserved rest.

While it remains unclear whether the parole came with restrictions on Mr Ching, Ms Lau said it was nonetheless a 'good gesture' on the part of Beijing ahead of the Chinese New Year festivities.

'The Chinese government is also trying to promote a 'harmonious society',' she added, referring to President Hu Jintao's pet political agenda.

'Releasing Ching Cheong, I guess, is one way.'

Ms Lau said the family would spend the next few days just catching up with Mr Ching and discussing 'a strategy' to deal with the situation going ahead.

'We just need to rest and to discuss among ourselves,' said Ms Lau.

'I have not had an opportunity to speak with him in private so far. Not one word.'

chinhon@sph.com.sg

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY VINCE CHONG IN HONG KONG