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BACK TOGETHER: Mr Ching with his wife, Ms Mary Lau, in Hong Kong yesterday. -- PHOTO: HONG KONG JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION
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STRAITS Times correspondent Ching Cheong, who was arrested in China nearly three years ago on espionage charges, was granted parole yesterday and reunited with his family in Hong Kong.
A gaunt-looking Mr Ching, 58, arrived at the Hung Hom railway station at around 1pm and was immediately whisked away by Hong Kong security officials.
His wife, Ms Mary Lau, 56, told The Straits Times that everyone in the family, including Mr Ching himself, was surprised by Beijing's move.
'It was a very sudden decision,' she said. 'I'm obviously happy he is coming home in time for the Chinese New Year's Eve reunion dinner.'
Mr Ching told The Straits Times last night that when he was told at about 8am to go pack his things, he guessed he would either be transferred or released.
Ms Lau said she got a call from a Hong Kong official at about 11am informing her of Mr Ching's imminent release.
The family had an emotional reunion hours later. But the veteran journalist, who joined The Straits Times in 1996, soon got down to the tasks at hand.
To avoid a media frenzy, he issued a two-page handwritten letter expressing gratitude to those who worked hard to secure his parole.
He also spoke to Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang on the telephone, during which he thanked Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) for its support throughout the ordeal.
Mr Ching remains a staff member of this newspaper, where he is the Chief China Correspondent. SPH has been providing financial and legal support for him and his family.
Mr Han said the freed journalist 'sounded in good spirits and was obviously very happy to be free'.
'He said he was physically well,' Mr Han added. 'We were both delighted that we would be able to meet up again, which I hope will take place soon. For now, he wants to spend some time with his family.'
Mr Ching was detained in southern China on April 22, 2005 and was subsequently charged with spying for Taiwan. Chinese prosecutors accused him of passing classified information to the Taiwanese Foundation on International and Cross-Strait Studies (FICS), a think-tank which Beijing claims was linked to Taiwan's intelligence service.
Mr Ching had maintained his innocence throughout, while FICS also denied allegations that it was a front for intelligence activities.
He was sentenced to five years' jail after a one-day hearing in Beijing in August 2006. He was fined 300,000 yuan (S$60,000) and was ordered to return another 300,000 yuan which he was said to have been paid for spying.
His appeal against the sentence was rejected in November 2006. Two months later, the authorities agreed to transfer him to the Guangzhou Prison in southern China following appeals by his family in Hong Kong.
His family had also lodged several requests for him to be released on medical grounds. He has an irregular heartbeat, and suffers from high blood pressure and stomach problems.
When asked about the release, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said he did not know the details of the case, adding that any decision made by the judiciary was 'according to relevant Chinese laws and regulations'.
chinhon@sph.com.sg
vincec@sph.com.sg
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