A fight for the rights of Hong Kong residents detained in the mainland came after the arrest confirmation of Hong Kong-cased reporter Ching Cheong in Beijing over spying allegations. Claims by April 2005 show that 57 Hong Kong residents remain detained, on trial or on bail in the mainland. Despite the 2000 consenses between the Hong Kong and mainland government to establish a reciprocal notification system to aid residents detained over the border, the rights of residents in detention on the mainland remain limited. Human rights activists are urging the Hong Kong government to pursue this matter, to inquire on an explanation of why the mainland delayed notification of Ching's detention to his relatives, and to push for the visitor rights of detainees which include visits from medical and legal services.
The fight of activists and the treatment of Ching today is crucial to the fate of future Hong Kong residents detained in the mainland and to ensure the fair trial and treatment and rights of detainees.
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