Ching confessed, state media says

A government-backed newspaper has said Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong confessed during pre-trial court proceedings that he knew Taiwan's Foundation on International and Cross-Strait Studies was a spying agency when he offered it confidential material between April and May 2004 in return for US$38,500, the South China Morning Post reported. Ta Kung Pao made the claim on its website in an article titled "Key Points of the Ching Cheong Case", citing an anonymous "heavyweight". The article came a day ahead of the deadline for lodging an appeal against his conviction and five year jail term imposed last Thursday for spying.