CHINA. WORLD NEWSPAPER GROUP DEMANDS RELEASE OF JOURNALIST WHO RISKS DEATH PENALTY

the World Association of Newspapers demanded the immediate release of Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong detained in China on spy charges.
"We call on the Chinese authorities to release Ching Cheong immediately and to cease jailing journalists to silence and intimidate them," the association said in a statement issued at the annual World Newspaper Congress.
Ching, a Hong Kong-based veteran China correspondent for the Singapore Straits Times newspaper, was arrested in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on April 22.
The arrest of Ching, 55, sparked international concern, with the United States calling on Beijing to provide an explanation.
China insists the journalist has confessed to espionage for "overseas intelligence organs" -- a charge that could carry the death sentence.
But the Paris-based association said he was apparently carrying out his journalistic activities when he was detained.
"His outrageous arrest constitutes a clear breach of his rights to practice his profession and is a gross violation of numerous international conventions," it said.