Tang Lung-wai Still Held After Philippine Release Order
HK01 · 2 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong inmate Tang Lung-wai (鄧龍威), who has been held in the Philippines for about 26 years over a drug case, has still not been released despite a local court order stating that his sentence ended on July 30. His brother said the prison no longer has legal authority to keep him, but Tang remains in custody because post-release procedures have not been completed. According to the family, Tang was supposed to undergo a medical examination at the prison hospital before being transferred to the Philippine immigration authorities, but that process has yet to begin. The brother said the extra detention is causing severe psychological distress and appealed for government departments to help speed up his release.
Key Points
- Tang's brother told media on August 26 that Philippine court documents show a release order took effect on July 30.
- The family said prison authorities should have sent Tang for a prison-hospital medical check before transfer to immigration custody.
- Two weeks ago, officials reportedly told the family they must wait until the Philippine immigration bureau has space to receive him.
- Tang was arrested in the Philippines in 2000 with friend Cheung Tai-on and another Hong Kong man in a methamphetamine trafficking case
- After 11 years in detention, Tang and one companion were convicted in 2011 and sentenced to life imprisonment, while the third defendant was acquitted
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case raises concern over what happens when a resident wins a release order overseas but remains trapped in administrative procedures. It also keeps attention on whether official assistance can shorten the final stage between sentence completion and actual return from foreign custody