2 Hongkongers held in Philippines for months after prison terms end

Two Hong Kong residents, Cheung and Ng, have been held in Philippine prisons for months following completion of their sentences for drug offences, according to the Immigration Department. The pair, who had been arrested for drug-related crimes in 2000 and 2001 respectively, were discharged from prison in January 2025 and January of this year.

However, their transfers to immigration facilities and deportation were delayed, leaving them in custody. The Hong Kong man, Tang Lung-wai, who returned to Hong Kong on Tuesday after serving 26 years in a Philippine prison for drug offences, helped the pair by meeting them in prison and appealing for their early return. Cheung and Ng, who had both been awaiting fingerprinting for months, received 40-year jail sentences.

Former lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun, who had been assisting Tang for years, also appealed for their release on Facebook. The Immigration Department is actively following up on the cases and liaising with Philippine authorities to ensure their repatriation. The Chinese embassy in Manila has also expressed concern over the cases and will continue to liaise with Philippine authorities to coordinate their repatriation.