HONG KONG  Mar. 5, 2009  (Credits to channelnewsasia.com)

The arrest of Canto-pop stars Kelvin Kwan Chor-yiu and Jill Vidal over possession of marijuana has sparked concern among family members and friends who hope the pair can escape with a deportation order if convicted.

The teen idols were arrested in Tokyo's trendy Shibuya nightclub district on February 24 after a row with a 24-hour convenience store shopkeeper who suspected the pair were shoplifting.

Police searched them and found 0.2 grams of marijuana in a cigarette they were carrying.

Kwan, 25 and Vidal, 26 – who is also known as Wei Si - have been in custody  by Japanese authorities, eight days after their arrest in the city's trendy Shibuya nightclub district.

According to Sankei Shimbun, Canadian citizen Kwan admitted that the drug had been given to him by a friend in Hong Kong. Vidal, a British citizen, said she did not know it was marijuana.

Duncan Wong Kim-to, senior vice president of Kwan’s record company, Universal Music Group, said Kwan had admitted he was involved in possession of marijuana but not in theft.

"He made a mistake and he should confess," said Wong, who has spoken to Kwan’s family. He believes the only sanction that Kwan and Vidal face is deportation.

Wong added that Kwan would face the public when he returns to Hong Kong to give an account of the incidents that took place.

Meanwhile, Kwan’s mother has arrived in Japan to instruct local lawyers in her son’s case.

The rumored couple had just participated in an anti-drug and crime campaign event in Hong Kong in November, and the news of their arrest comes as a surprise to many.

Although the duo have not been charged, the wave of drug crimes involving the elite – professional athletes, doctors and students at top universities – has been on a rise.

Japan has long had some of the strictest laws against marijuana and the pair could be sentenced up to five years' jail for marijuana possession.

Kwan's godfather, singer Alan Tam Wing-lung, and Wei Si's boss, singer/ actor Leon Lai Ming, said they are deeply disappointed over the report, and are checking the truth of the allegations.

Alan Tam, president of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild, said he would be very disappointed and heartbroken if the accusations are true.

"I would not tolerate such behavior, even though he's my godson. I will treat this matter in a strict and serious manner. It has affected the public's view of Hong Kong artistes," Tam said.

Leon Lai, who is in charge of Wei Si's record company Amusic, said his company would not tolerate the possession of drugs. He said many youngsters imitate their idols and this incident could affect them.

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Hong Kong reports on the arrest and response by Jill's father