Beijing has pledged to protect rights of four Hongkongers jailed for life in the Philippines on drug charges, city’s security chief John Lee says
- Assurance comes as families of the four men convicted for possession of methamphetamine say they will ‘exhaust all means’ in fight for justice
- Lee says he asked central government to pay special attention to the case
Hong Kong’s security minister on Monday said Beijing had pledged to do everything in its power to protect the rights of four Hongkongers jailed for life in the Philippines on drug charges.
The assurance by Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu came as the families of the men convicted for possession of methamphetamine said they would exhaust all means in their fight for justice.
Speaking after a meeting with officials from China’s Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee said he had asked the central government to pay special attention to the case.
The families and Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun had repeatedly urged Beijing and Hong Kong officials to intervene, saying the trial of the men was unfair and their arrest in 2016 in front of journalists was a set-up.
Lee on Monday said he had expressed the Hong Kong government’s concerns to the ministry.
“The officials were very receptive to what I said,” Lee said. “They promised to do everything they can.”
