Canadian Spy Hearing In China 'over In A Few Hours'

The hearing for a Canadian man detained in China for more than two years on espionage charges finished after less than three hours, a Canadian diplomat said on Friday.

Jim Nickel, the charge d'affaires of the Canadian embassy in Beijing, told reporters outside the courtroom in Dandong, Liaoning province, that the hearing had ended and they were awaiting the verdict, which the court said will be handed down on a "later date".

Michael Spavor was one of two Canadians detained, in apparent retaliation for Canada's arrest on a US extradition warrant of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, and formally charged last June with spying.

Spavor's family have called for his unconditional release, insisting that he was innocent of the accusations.

His family described him as "just an ordinary Canadian businessman who has done extraordinary things to build constructive ties" between Canada, China and North Korea.

Canada said its consular officials were not given permission to attend the proceedings despite several requests.

Nickel told reporters outside the court that they were "disappointed by the lack of transparency and the lack of access."

A group of 10 diplomats from eight other countries including Britain, the US, France and Australia had also travelled to Dandong, in what Nickel described as a gesture of solidarity for Spavor and to "register their opposition to arbitrary detention".

"We appreciate the international support," he told reporters.

The trial of the other detained Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, is scheduled to start on Monday in Beijing.

The two men have had almost no contact with the outside world since their detention.

China's judicial system convicts most people who stand trial and the two men face up to life in prison if found guilty of "espionage" and "providing state secrets". (AFP)