Released marine officer held in hotel room for two months

Taiwan marine police officer Chuang Chen-yao returned home last night after being held in a mainland hotel room for two months.

Taipei paid 140,000 yuan (HK$131,000) for his release.

Mr Chuang, who had been taken to Fujian province aboard a mainland fishing vessel after a clash at sea on October 11 between Taiwan marine police and the boat's crew, flew back to Taipei last night.

Speaking at Taipei airport, he said he was taken by mainland police to a hospital in Changle after the vessel docked. Mr Chuang said that after being treated for wounds suffered in the clash off the Taiwanese-held Matsu Islands, he had been taken to a hotel.

He was not allowed to leave his room for nearly 60 days.

'I always knew you would work to get me out,' he said.