HONG KONG - A Philippine lawmaker and music promoter accused of drug trafficking in Hong Kong told a court Tuesday he could not enter a plea to the charges because he was undergoing medical treatment.

Ronald Singson was charged after being arrested by customs at Hong Kong's international airport in July for allegedly carrying a vial of cocaine weighing about 26 grams (0.9 ounces) in his hand luggage.

His lawyer, John Reading, asked the district court to adjourn the case because Singson was "undertaking medical treatment" and unable to enter a plea until he receives his medical report.

Judge Kevin Browne adjourned the case to October 19 and extended his bail. Singson has paid one million Hong Kong dollars (128,000 US dollars) bail, and two friends paid another one million dollars as surety.

Singson told reporters outside court he was under instructions not to comment on his medical condition, and kissed his baby daughter in front of a crowd of photographers.

The 41-year-old has a Manila film star girlfriend and juggles two jobs promoting US rhythm and blues acts in the southeast Asian country while holding a parliamentary seat.

He won a second three-year term in the House of Representatives in May, in the seat long held by his family in the northern province of Ilocos Sur.

The legislator is one of seven children by an estranged wife of Ilocos Sur governor and political kingpin Luis "Chavit" Singson, one of the most colourful and controversial political figures in the Philippines.

The 69 year-old patriarch was in Hong Kong last month to attend his son's bail hearing, when he denied his son was a drug dealer. "It's a set-up," he told reporters.

Also present then was Singson's girlfriend Lovi Poe, daughter of the late king of Philippine movies and unsuccessful presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.