Hong Kong Follows Up on Two Residents Held After Philippine Prison Terms

Hong Kong authorities are following up on the cases of two residents who remain in custody in the Philippines despite completing their prison sentences, according to the Immigration Department. The department confirmed the cases after an appeal by former lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun and Tang Lung-wai, a Hong Kong man who returned to the city on Tuesday after serving 26 years in a Philippine prison. Tang said he met the two residents, surnamed Cheung and Ng, in prison and was held with them at the same immigration facility while awaiting deportation.

He said both had been arrested for drug-related offences in 2000 and 2001 and had completed their sentences. The Philippine Bureau of Immigration issued deportation orders for Ng and Cheung in June and March respectively, according to documents seen by the South China Morning Post. Tang said the pair were still waiting for their identities to be confirmed.

He said Cheung had his fingerprints taken for the first time after six months, while Ng had his fingerprints taken six or seven times without the records being accepted. Both men received 40-year prison sentences. Ng was expected to be discharged in January 2025 and Cheung in January this year, but their transfers to immigration facilities were delayed.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department said it was actively handling the cases and would provide feasible assistance. It was liaising with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese embassy in the Philippines to verify the men’s identities and issue entry-permit documents. The Chinese embassy said it was concerned about the cases and would continue coordinating with Philippine authorities on repatriation arrangements.

Tse called for continued attention to the men’s situation and an early return. Tang’s own release followed a Manila court ruling in July that his sentence should be commuted because of good conduct. He was ordered to be released and deported immediately but waited three weeks in immigration facilities before returning to Hong Kong.