Three of four Hongkongers who had been jailed for life in the Philippines for drug charges have returned to the SAR on Friday, almost 11 months after winning their appeal.

Chan Kwok-tung, Lo Wing-fai, Kwok Kam-wah and Leung Shu-fook were arrested when they tried to get on a boat in Subic Bay in 2016 for possessing and making drugs. They were eventually convicted for drug possession.

Other than Leung, the three won their appeal in February last year, but they continued to spend months in detention.

The trio said they never committed any crimes and so they insisted on appealing, while stressing that they think Leung is innocent as well.

"We are infinitely grateful to the Central and SAR governments, the Foreign Ministry's office in Hong Kong, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, a former lawmaker, the press and those who were concerned about us and offer us donations in support," they said in a statement.

The three said they hope the governments can continue to help Leung, so that he can be released soon and reunite with his family.