HONG KONG woman Angel Mou Pui-peng was to be hanged as scheduled this morning in Singapore.
Changi Prison authorities were said to have told a family friend late last night that they had received instructions to execute her at dawn.
But Mou's family were last night still hoping for word that a last-ditch reprieve would be granted.
Mou, who was granted a surprise Christmas reprieve, was sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
Her sister filed an appeal with President Ong Teng Cheong this week pleading for more time.
The sister has failed to find new evidence to prove Mou's innocence, despite help from local police. She has won an audience with a prisoner thought to be involved in the case but discovered at the last minute he knew too little to help.