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Three Mainland residents - two men and a woman - suspected of possessing forged travel documents and making false representations on destinations, were arrested by the Immigration Department yesterday (September 4).
A fourth person, a female Singaporean visitor, was also arrested for being a boarding pass facilitator.
Immigration investigators at Hong Kong International Airport, intercepted the three Mainlanders who were going to use suspected counterfeit Singaporean passports and make false representations on the destinations at the boarding gate for a flight bound for San Francisco.
All three admitted they were Mainland visitors who entered Hong Kong via border control points a few days ago using Mainland travel documents. They made false representations to Immigration officers by claiming that they were leaving for Bangkok and Shanghai on their Mainland travel documents yesterday.
The Singaporean female visitor was intercepted by Immigration officer in relation to the Mainlanders' case. She was found to have performed check-in formalities for one of the three Mainlanders and the suspected forged Singaporean passport the Mainlander was using for the departure to San Francisco was in her name. She was then detained for joint investigations.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who possesses a forged travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, face a maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
It is also an offence to make a false representation to an Immigration Service member. 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, September 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:21
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