It also urged the Chinese government to publicly specify the charges against the Straits Times correspondent, Hong Kong citizen Ching Cheong, beyond a general statement that he was being held for espionage.

"The Singapore Press Club views with deep concern the detention in Beijing of Mr Ching Cheong, an outstanding Straits Times journalist who has contributed much to helping Singapore readers understand China better, for alleged espionage," the press club said in a statement.

"It notes with regret that no details beyond the general charge have been made public."

The organisation also said there had been no indication of how long Ching would be held and urged the Chinese government "to accord Mr Ching due process expeditiously".

Ching, 55, was arrested on April 22 in China's southern city of Guangzhou.

Chinese authorities announced late last month he was being held on espionage charges but have given few details, saying only that he had admitted to spying for "overseas organs" for money.

He is under house arrest in Beijing.

His wife, Mary Lau, said she believed Ching's arrest was connected to his attempts to acquire the manuscript of a publication about the late former Chinese Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang.

Zhao was purged and kept under house arrest for the last 16 years of his life for opposing the military crackdown on Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protesters on June 4, 1989.

Ching's arrest has triggered international protests, and activists in Hong Kong have petitioned the government there to try to influence China.

The Singapore Press Club's statement followed an editorial on Tuesday in which Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the publisher of the Straits Times, said Ching must be considered innocent until proven guilty.

SPH said much was at stake in Beijing's allegations that Ching had been spying: the journalist's liberty, China's national security and the transparency of its investigative and judicial processes.

"SPH takes the position that Mr. Ching is innocent until proven guilty," the editorial said. "If and when he is formally charged, a proper judicial process done expeditiously should be conducted.

"As much as China permits no sabotaging of its national interest, it has to be cognizant of the fact that there is a worldwide expectation from uninterested quarters that justice be seen to be served -- for the accused no less than for the accuser."

China-born Ching is a Hong Kong citizen and a Singapore permanent resident, but he also holds a British national (overseas) passport given to some Hong Kong citizens by the British government.

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