I grew up on Cheung Chau in a family of fishermen, raised by my grandmother, and completed my education up to Form 3. As the eldest son, I have one younger brother and two younger sisters. After my mother had my second sister, she stopped working on the boat to care for us, leaving my father to fish alone, which ultimately led to his tragic death at sea.
When I was eight, my father bought a house on Cheung Chau, and our family began to live together comfortably. After finishing Form 3, I took a one-year painting course and started working as an apprentice at a painting company at 15 to help support my family.
At 17, I began dating a girl who was a classmate of my cousin, and her family was also made up of fishermen. Our relationship blossomed over three years, and we enjoyed spending time together while our families got along well.
Tragically, my father developed heart disease at 40, which affected his ability to work and our family’s income. Fortunately, my sister and I were employed, allowing us to support the family, although my father occasionally went out to fish.
Our situation worsened when my father made a poor investment in 2003-2004, forcing us to sell our home to stay afloat. During this time, my relationship with my girlfriend also faltered, and we eventually broke up. The loss of our home and my relationship left me emotionally devastated and struggling to cope.
During this time, I faced overwhelming emotional turmoil, compounded by the loss of my brother and financial insecurity… Despite knowing it was illegal, I felt desperate and accepted the offer to support my family.
By 2004, the drastic changes in my life took a toll on my mental and physical health. Although I continued to work, I felt lost and aimless. With our house sold, my sisters moved in with their boyfriends, leaving my brother and me to live with our parents.
Over the years, my sisters got married and started their own families. I became the pillar of support for my family. In 2015, my father underwent two major surgeries due to his heart condition. Despite my busy work schedule, I visited him in the hospital, hoping for his recovery.
Unfortunately, his health continued to decline, and he expressed a desire to see me settle down. This added pressure weighed heavily on me, especially as I had found someone special to share my life with.
I later met a woman who, like me, had experienced emotional trauma. She struggled with depression and turned to drugs, damaging her mental health. Wanting to help her recover, I took care of her and accompanied her to medical appointments. With encouragement from the nurses, I felt motivated to take on this responsibility, and we started living together.
However, in 2018, my father passed away, which was an enormous blow. I had hoped he would see me settle down and possibly witness my wedding. This loss became a lifelong regret for me.
Later, my mother opposed my marriage to my girlfriend due to her illness. I understood her concerns and didn’t blame her; she loved me too much to support the idea. I assured her I had the patience and ability to care for my girlfriend, but I decided to postpone my marriage to ease my mother’s worries.
“I hope to see you come home and have our family together before I die.” Her words brought me to tears, as I realized how much she worries about me.
Then, a year later, my brother unexpectedly passed away from a serious illness, shattering our family further. The COVID-19 pandemic added to my struggles, leading to job loss due to company layoffs. During this time, I faced overwhelming emotional turmoil, compounded by the loss of my brother and financial insecurity.
In this urgent situation, a friend offered me a job transporting drugs. Despite knowing it was illegal, I felt desperate and accepted the offer to support my family. This decision led to a grave mistake that ruined my future and caused my mother immense pain.
While in custody, I reflected deeply and resolved to change, quitting drugs and vowing never to reoffend. I feel especially sorry for my mother, now 70, who said, “I hope to see you come home and have our family together before I die.” Her words brought me to tears, as I realized how much she worries about me.
During my time in custody, I enrolled in courses to improve myself, including computer skills and the “Life Transformation Certificate Course” from the International Grace Theological Institute. I also plan to attend rehabilitation college and a local university after my sentencing to continue my education and contribute positively to society.
I acknowledge my mistakes and understand that I must take responsibility for my actions. I am willing to accept any punishment and promise to abide by the law, work hard, and return to the right path.
As my mother ages, she fears she may not live to see me come home. I hope Your Honour can show compassion and give me one last chance to care for her. I sincerely request a reduction in my sentence so I can reunite with my mother and family as soon as possible. I would be immensely grateful for this opportunity.
Note: This letter has been translated and edited to improve the readability and clarity of the story. Switch language to read the letters in the original Chinese.