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Families of Hong Kong men jailed for life in Philippines on drugs charge vow to continue legal fight

  • Decision expected on Monday about whether to apply for judicial review or appeal against sentence
  • Men were sentenced to life in prison for possession of half a kilogram of methamphetamine

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Leung Shu-siu, sister of Leung Shu-fook, and Ivy Lo, sister of Lo Wing-fai, appear on a radio programme with lawmaker James To on Monday. Photo: Dickson Lee

The families of four Hong Kong men sentenced to life in prison in the Philippines on a drugs charge will decide on Monday whether to apply for a judicial review or appeal against the sentence after consulting lawyers.

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Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun, who has been helping the families, again urged the central and Hong Kong governments to express concerns, arguing the trial was unfair and that dubious evidence was staged to save face after local media were invited on a police operation.

Last Friday, Lo Wing-fai, Chan Kwok-tung, Kwok Kam-wah and Leung Shu-fook were sentenced to life in prison by a Philippine court for possession of half a kilogram of methamphetamine.
They claimed they were framed and denied all charges of manufacturing illegal substances and possession of the drug, also known as “Ice”. The court found them guilty of possession while acquitting them of manufacturing illegal substances.

The following day, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor promised to help, urging the Southeast Asian nation to guarantee fair and humane treatment for the men.

Lam did not say whether she would seek help from the central government during a visit to Beijing that began on Saturday.

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The group (pictured sitting) were detained in July 2016 on board a 50-metre fishing boat about 3km off the coast of Zambales province, northwest of Manila. Photo: Handout
The group (pictured sitting) were detained in July 2016 on board a 50-metre fishing boat about 3km off the coast of Zambales province, northwest of Manila. Photo: Handout
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