A Chinese editor involved in authoring an unusually bold editorial that demanded reform of a controversial household registration system says he and others have suffered retaliation.

Zhang Hong, a former deputy editor with the Beijing-based Economic Observer, said he was punished after the editorial ran jointly in 13 major newspapers across the country last week.

"After this incident, I was punished accordingly; other colleagues and media partners also felt repercussions," Zhang said in a letter dated March 9.

The editorial was highly unusual as the country's media rarely criticise official policy overtly.

Zhang's letter focussed largely on explaining why the editorial was written and did not confirm if he had been removed from his post, but added he was now an "independent commentator".

The letter appeared on a number of Chinese blogs and Internet sites, and the website of the Wall Street Journal, which said he had been forced from his job as a senior editor, citing unnamed sources.