Tang Lung-wai returns to Hong Kong after 26 years in Philippine prison

Tang Lung-wai, a Hong Kong man who spent 26 years in a Philippine prison, returned to Hong Kong on September 29 following the completion of his sentence. Tang was originally sentenced to life imprisonment in 2000 after being accused of drug possession during a trip to the Philippines.

His release was made possible by a 2024 revision to Philippine laws regarding sentence reductions for good behavior, allowing life prisoners to apply for release after serving 21.5 years.

The Hong Kong government and the Immigration Department coordinated with the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR to expedite his repatriation. While standard repatriation processes from the Philippines typically take between 7 to 14 months, multi-agency coordination allowed for a significantly compressed timeline.

Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, Tang was met by his brother and will undergo medical examinations before returning home. The Hong Kong government stated it will continue to follow up on the case and provide necessary assistance.