Family seeks help after Hongkonger held in Philippines despite finishing jail time
The family of a Hong Kong man imprisoned in the Philippines for more than two decades has appealed to city authorities for help after he remained in custody despite a court in the country recently ruling that he had finished serving his lengthy sentence. Tang Lung-wai was arrested in the country in July 2000 for the possession of methamphetamine, also known as Ice, and placed on remand. He was…
A Hong Kong man, Tang Lung-wai, has been imprisoned in the Philippines for over two decades, despite a court ruling that he had completed his 40-year sentence. Arrested in July 2000 for possessing methamphetamine, Tang was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 40 years. Recently, a court ruled that his sentence was served, and Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara ordered his release and deportation.
However, Tang's family claims he remains in prison and faces complex administrative procedures before his deportation. His brother, Billy Tang Lung-piu, expressed concern for Tang's safety and requested expedited assistance from the Hong Kong government. The Immigration Department stated they would provide aid once they received updates on the case.
The Philippine consulate in Hong Kong has acknowledged the family's concerns and will relay them to the Philippine authorities. In 2018, Hong Kong's then-city leader, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, had written to President Rodrigo Duterte to expedite the search for records that could prove Tang's innocence.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
