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 later convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. While the court recently ruled that his...
Source: South China Morning Post · August 26, 2026 at 1:33 PM · AI-assisted report
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HONG KONG, 26 AUGUST 2026 —
Hong Kong man held in Philippines despite completing 40-year sentence, family seeks help
Market Impact
The family of a Hong Kong man imprisoned in the Philippines for over two decades has appealed to Malaysian authorities for assistance after he remained in custody despite a court ruling that he had completed his sentence. Tang Lung-wai, arrested in July 2000 for methamphetamine possession, was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
A Philippine court on July 30 ordered his release and immediate deportation, citing good conduct allowance that brought his total time served to 40 years, one month, and 13 days as of July 5, 2026.
Malaysian market impact remains unclear as details of Tang’s case have not yet been widely reported in local media. The Philippine court’s decision follows a habeas corpus petition granted to Tang, who was granted release but faces further administrative procedures before deportation. His elder brother, Billy Tang Lung-piu, expressed concerns over his safety in prison and urged the Hong Kong government to intervene.
The court ruled that Tang’s sentence was served in full, correcting an earlier prison record error that had undercounted his time. However, his family said he still requires medical checks and identity verification at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration before deportation. The Hong Kong Immigration Department has been contacted, with authorities awaiting confirmation from the Philippine embassy in mainland China regarding Tang’s release date.
The case has drawn attention from both Hong Kong and Philippine authorities, with former Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam previously urging former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 to expedite immigration records. While critical records were later obtained, Tang lost his final appeal in 2020. The Hong Kong Security Bureau has not yet commented.