Veteran Hong Kong journalist Ching Cheong, 58, chief China correspondent for Singapore's the Straits Times, was arrested in April 2005. The following year he was sentenced to five years in jail, accused of spying for Taiwan.

His wife, Mary Lau, said his family was drafting a letter to ask prison authorities in southern China's Guangzhou to consider an application for parole.

"We have applied for medical parole for so long and that wasn't granted. I hope they will allow the parole this time. We can only appeal to the prison. It will be up to them whether to do it or not," she told AFP.

"The final decision will rest with the court."

Lau hopes to send out the letter to Chinese authorities before Lunar New Year in early February and will inform Hong Kong's political leader Donald Tsang about their move.

"I hope he will be able to help us lobby for his case," Lau said, adding she will also apply to meet him for a family dinner during the Chinese New Year -- although the same request was rejected last year.

Lau visits her husband once a month but they marked their 25th wedding anniversary apart on Thursday.

Ching's conviction followed a one-day, closed-door trial. An appeal was later dismissed. The journalist has always maintained his innocence.

His case has attracted international attention, highlighting fears China is cracking down on foreign and domestic journalists in the run-up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

His newspaper company, Singapore Press Holdings, has said Ching served the company with distinction since joining in 1996.

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