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Two Hong Kong women and a Mainland man who entered into bogus marriages were given jail sentences ranging from 12 to 21 months after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (March 5).
The first case involved 26-year-old Hong Kong resident Li Ka-yee who three times contracted a bogus marriage with Mainland residents. She pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to defraud and was given an effective sentence of 20 months.
Li was located by an Immigration investigator when one of her bogus husbands Zhuang Hong-xing was intercepted at the Lo Wu control point in January, 2007. Li later admitted that, for monetary reward, she agreed to contract a bogus marriage with Zhuang so that he could acquire a "90-day visit" visa for taking up illegal employment in Hong Kong. Zhuang was last month given an 18-month sentence.
Another Hong Kong resident Chung Ho-ki, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of making false declaration for procuring a marriage. She was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on each charge, sentences to run concurrently.
Chung was located for enquiries because of her doubtful marital relationship to a Mainland resident Huang Yanfeng. On December 10, 2006, Huang was stopped at the Lo Wu control point upon his arrival and later admitted he had contracted a bogus marriage with Chung for the purpose of obtaining a "90-day visit" visa for job seeking in Hong Kong. He was earlier sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
In the third case, Mainland resident Lu Feiyu, 36, who pleaded guilty to four counts of making false representation to an Immigration officer and one count of conspiracy to defraud was jailed for 21 months.
Lu was intercepted upon his departure at the Lo Wu control point on January 24. Investigation revealed that he had come to Hong Kong on four occasions on "90-day visit" visas which was obtained on the basis of his marriage to a Hong Kong resident. Lu admitted that he had not met his bogus wife since the marriage and had falsely declared to the Immigration officer on each arrival that he was coming to visit his wife while his purpose was actually for taking up unapproved employment.
An Immigration spokesman said the department had been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents obtaining the right to stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriages. "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.
Anyone who commits the offence of making false declaration for procuring a marriage is liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 7 years and to a fine.
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/Monday, March 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:29
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