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A Mainland man and a Hong Kong man, involved in false marriage cases, were both jailed after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (May 18).
Mainland resident Huang Kwaizeng, 38, was convicted of one count of making false representation to an Immigration Officer and was given an effective sentence of 12 months.
Huang was intercepted when he was taking up illegal work in Hong Kong in April. He admitted entering into a false marriage with a Hong Kong resident at a cost of 50,000 renminbi. He made use of the false marriage to acquire a "90-day visit" endorsement and entered Hong Kong for illegal work and hoping to eventually settle. Upon his entry, he had falsely declared to the Immigration control officers that he came to visit his resident wife.
In the second case, 51-year-old Hong Kong resident Wong Sik-hung was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for 12 months.
Wong admitted entering into a fake marriage with a Mainland resident for monetary reward. On strength of the sham marriage, his bogus spouse could acquire "90-day visit" endorsement to enter Hong Kong to seek illegal work and eventually for settlement.
"The Immigration Department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining stay in Hong Kong by means of marriage of convenience." 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 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/Friday, May 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:45
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