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Occupy Central
Hong KongPolitics

Brain tumour ‘larger than a ping-pong ball’ prompts deferment of Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan’s Occupy sentencing

  • Civic Party lawmaker says condition discovered after medical check-up as she was expecting long jail term and wanted to reassure her mother she was healthy
  • Diagnosis on whether growth is cancerous can only be made during open-brain surgery

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Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan addresses supporters and the media. Photo: Sam Tsang.
Su XinqiandElizabeth Cheung

A life-threatening brain tumour “larger than a ping-pong ball” has prompted Hong Kong lawmaker Tanya Chan to ask for her sentence for civil disobedience to be deferred.

Chan, 47, was originally set to hear her fate in court proceedings on Wednesday, along with eight other pro-democracy leaders found guilty of charges related to the 2014 Occupy movement.

Four in the group, including two founding members, were jailed for up to 16 months at West Kowloon Court, while Chan’s sentencing was adjourned to June 10 after her condition was revealed. She would need to undergo surgery in two weeks.

Chan disclosed further details to supporters outside the court.

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“I went for a physical check-up, which included a full-body magnetic resonance imaging, in a private hospital on April 4 because I expected to be jailed for quite a long period and I wanted to reassure my mother I could make it through,” Chan said.

I went for a physical check-up, which included a full-body magnetic resonance imaging … because I expected to be jailed for quite a long period
Tanya Chan, lawmaker

“My report was ready on April 11 but my conviction came on April 9 and 10, and I had travelled to Taipei with my mom to celebrate Mothers’ Day in advance.

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“So I had my follow-up consultation at Canossa Hospital on April 17.”

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