Freed journalist Ching back at his desk

Journalist Ching Cheong, who was detained on the mainland for almost three years, returned to work at the Hong Kong office of Singapore's The Straits Times yesterday.

'I am very happy to return to a job that I like so much,' Ching said as he stepped into the office at 11am, starting his first formal working day since his release on parole from a Guangzhou prison on February 5. 'I have been in the news media for decades and I am really excited to come back.'

Ching, 58, who went back to the office last week to prepare for his return, said he hoped he was ready to work again, adding that his health had improved a lot.

During his time in detention he suffered from an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and stomach ailments.

He said he planned to stay in Hong Kong to write commentaries and analyses on China affairs, but had yet to discuss specific topics to be covered with his employer.

Ching was detained on the mainland in April 2005 and jailed for five years by a Beijing court in August 2006 on charges of spying for Taiwan. He said he did not have any plans to go to the mainland to work in the near future but would be eager to do so when the opportunity arose.