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Two Hong Kong female involved in false marriages, were jailed after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court yesterday (July 20).
Lam Siu-man, 23, was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to defraud and was given an effective sentence of 18 months. Lee Wai-fong, 25, was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to defraud and was jailed for two years.
Lam admitted that she had entered into false marriages with two Mainland men - one in July, 2005, and the second in August the same year. Lee admitted false marriages with three Mainland men. The first took place in October, 2004, the second in June, 2005, and the third in July, 2005. Both said the "marriages" were for money and to facilitate their respective bogus husbands to make use of the false marriage and apply for "90-day visit" endorsements to enter Hong Kong.
"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.
Ends/Saturday, July 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:16
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