THE Chinese community in London has raised more than GBP15,000 (HK$180,000) to help a Hong Kong couple appeal against an arson conviction which they consider a miscarriage of justice.
Chan Kwan-shing and his wife, Yee-ping, were sentenced to 41/2 and 21/2 years' jail respectively in April for setting fire to a car owned by their neighbour, Patrick Ryan, with whom they had been having a long dispute.
Chan Yee-ping gave birth to a son eight months ago who lives with her in Manchester open prison. Her husband is kept in London.
Their bail application before the appeal court opens next month was rejected on August 3.
Michael Chiu, a solicitor and community leader, said there were lingering doubts about the conviction.
'This case is extremely unfair,' he said. 'The judge was wrong, the verdict is wrong and the evidence was handled wrongly. We will fight it until the end,' he said.