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A Hong Kong woman and a Mainland man have been jailed over a bogus marriage after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (January 9).
The 36-year-old female defendant, Chu Pui-ying, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud. She was given an effective sentence of 12 months.
Chu's bogus husband, 37-year-old Mainlander, Xie Qun, was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud and three counts of making a false representation to an Immigration officer. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to an effective jail term of 21 months.
On November 26, 2006, Xie Qun arrived in Hong Kong with a Mainland Entry and Exit Permit bearing a "90-day visa" endorsement and declared to the Immigration control officer that he was going to visit his resident wife. As the purpose of Xie's visit was in doubt, he was detained for further investigations.
Xie admitted that he had agreed with a middleman to enter into a bogus marriage with a Hong Kong resident at a cost 50,000 renminbi. He intended to make use of the bogus marriage to acquire "90-day visa" endorsements to stay longer in Hong Kong and to subsequently acquire the one-way permit for settlement here. In mid-2004, Xie and Chu registered their marriage on the Mainland.
After the bogus marriage, Xie successfully acquired a "90-day visa" endorsement and came to Hong Kong in September 2004, April 2005 and November 2006. He falsely told the Immigration control officers that he had come to visit Chu on all three occasions.
Chu admitted that she had entered into two bogus marriages for monetary reward, one of which was contracted with Xie.
"The department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining the right to stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriages," a department spokesman said. "A special task force has been set up to gather intelligence through various avenues and a thorough investigation will be conducted once evidence comes to light. If there is enough evidence, the department will prosecute the offenders.
"For people who have obtained their residence in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their Hong Kong identity card and residence status will be declared invalid according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin," the spokesman said.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
It is also an offence to make a false representation to Immigration officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
Ends/Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:58
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