Activist to be granted medical parole
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An activist who was jailed for 30 months for inciting social disorder after trying to draw attention to the plight of children who had consumed melamine-tainted milk powder has been granted medical parole, some Hong Kong politicians said Sunday.
Some Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said they have received the information from a "highly reliable source" among Beijing local authorities that Zhao Lianhai's medical parole has been approved.
However, there has been no official confirmation of the decision.
Calls to Zhao's wife, Li Xuemei, went unanswered Sunday.
Wong Kwok-kin, the deputy, told the Global Times that he was glad that Zhao would be reunited with his family.
"Reliable sources said Saturday that Zhao would be granted medical parole and meet his family," he said.
Zhao's apartment is located in an old five-story building, but a brand-new door requiring a security code for entry was installed at the entrance. When a Global Times reporter managed to pass through Sunday, two male security guards inside the building blocked his way.
One of the guards told the Global Times that Zhao's wife is not under house arrest.
However, the security guard added, "We have been taking very good care of her. She is doing very well."
Zhao first vowed to appeal the verdict, but later fired his lawyers, Li Fangping and Peng Jian, and went back on his earlier decision. He applied for medical parole, sparking speculation that he had given up on an appeal for an earlier release.
Li, the lawyer, told the Global Times that he heard about Zhao's medical parole.
"We hope that Zhao can gain his freedom as soon as possible, even if it is limited freedom. He has done so much to fight for the rights of those people who suffered from the tainted milk," Li said.
Peng said Zhao was exercising his rights, and should be acquitted of all charges.
Wong said he will follow up the matter in the annual session of the NPC and CPPCC in March, demanding local authorities improve transparency in the judicial process.
"This is just a social and civil case, and there are no State secrets involved, but the case has been handled in a matter that lacks transparency."
Lew Mon-hong, another Hong Kong deputy to the CPPCC, told the Global Times that Beijing local authorities should clear Zhao of all the charges against him.
He added that it was not appropriate for them to use medical parole to handle a case that raised social discontent.
Ye Hongbo, whose child was sickened by the tainted milk powder, told the Global Times that he is excited about Zhao's release.
