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Three Mainlanders and one Hong Kong resident entered into marriages for convenience were today (June 13) given jail sentences ranging from 12 to 24 months after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
The first case, Hong Kong resident Lo Lai Yung, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding, abetting counseling or procuring Xu Ruichang making false representation to an Immigration officer and three counts of conspiracy to defraud. She was given an effective sentence of 24 months.
Lo was located for investigation of a case of marriages for convenience. She later admitted that for monetary reward she had entered false marriages with Xu and two other Mainlanders in last July, August and September respectively. Lo knew that her bogus husbands would use the false marriages to acquire "90-day visit" endorsements to enter Hong Kong and subsequently for settlement. To facilitate the entry of Xu to Hong Kong, Lo lied to immigration officers that Xu came to Hong Kong to visit her.
In the second case, Lu Hongjun, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts of making false representation to an immigration officer and one count of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for 18 months.
In the third case, Sun Guanglong, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of making false representation to an Immigration officer and one count of conspiracy to defraud was jailed for 12 months.
In the fourth case, Chen Luojin, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false representation and one count of conspiracy to defraud was given an effective sentence of 16 months.
Lu, Sun and Chen admitted that they had entered into fake marriages with Hong Kong residents. They intended to make use of the false marriages to acquire a "90-day visit" endorsement to enter Hong Kong and eventually for settlement. They made visits to Hong Kong after the "marriage", falsely declaring to the Immigration control officers that they came to visit their respective spouse.
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 marriage of convenience. "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/Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:29
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