Mainland security officials insisted last night that the six-month detention order imposed on Democratic Party candidate Alex Ho Wai-to for hiring a prostitute was lenient.
Dongguan Public Security Bureau said Mr Ho could have faced a two-year punishment.
'Now Ho Wai-to is only serving re-education through labour for six months. It is a lenient punishment,' a bureau officer told the China News Service.
The comment came as the bureau agreed to provide medical checks for Mr Ho, who has hepatitis, and to allow his wife, Lai Fung-sim, to provide medicine for him.
Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong also confirmed that mainland authorities had agreed to pass on medicine to Mr Ho.
Mr Ho's wife and Democratic Party colleagues have applied for him to be released on medical parole.
