THE Chief Secretary, Anson Chan Fang On-sang, yesterday urged the Chinese Government to clarify the rules for local journalists working on the mainland following the rejection of Hong Kong reporter Xi Yang's appeal against a 12-year prison sentence for stealing state secrets. ''I very much hope that the Chinese can make clear exactly what the rules are so that Hong Kong reporters operating in China can ensure they comply with these rules,'' Mrs Chan said. She added that there was disappointment in Hong Kong at the failure of Xi's appeal and hoped Beijing understood the concerns raised in the territory. Several local National People's Congress delegates have urged the Chinese authorities to publish an official account of the trial and explain how the verdict was reached. A senior mainland official yesterday defended the court's decision. Xinhua (the New China News Agency) Deputy Director Zhang Junsheng claimed Xi's appeal had been carried out in accordance with the law, even though it was completed within two days. ''After receiving the request for an appeal, the court would demand the lower court to deliver all the related material. The handling of the case had been completely legal and correct, so the appeal court was able to reach a conclusion quickly,'' he said. Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong chairman, Tsang Yok-sing, supported Mr Zhang's comments, saying the Beijing court had not made any mistakes. ''Its actions were taken in accordance with regulations in China. Even if there were some measures that contradicted Hong Kong standards, they were fully justified under Chinese laws,'' he said. ''We cannot ask the court for a lighter sentence since it reached a proper verdict originally. But we will try to seek probation.'' But Preliminary Working Committee member Lau Siu-kai said the punishment was too severe. ''The Chinese authorities should consider how Hong Kong people feel and treat Mr Xi leniently, even if the verdict is legitimate under Chinese law.'' Protests against Xi's imprisonment intensified yesterday with all mainstream political parties, except the Liberal Party, demonstrating outside Xinhua's headquarters in Happy Valley. The Liberal Party said that, instead, some of its members were planning a trip to Beijing to plead for Xi's release. Protests will continue today, with hundreds of people expected to march to Xinhua again, including members of a new group, the Operation for Saving Ming Pao Reporter Xi Yang, made up of 120 organisations.
