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A male Mainlander, involved in using an unlawfully obtained one-way permit, has been jailed for 16 months.
Wu Yichao, 36, pleaded guilty in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court on October 24 to one count of using an unlawfully obtained travel document.
Wu admitted that he was the adopted son of a Hong Kong resident, Lee Kwong. He knew he was not eligible for settlement in Hong Kong because he was not Lee's natural son. However, in order to apply for a one-way permit from the Mainland authorities to come to Hong Kong for settlement, he falsely reported that he was Lee's natural son. In August 2001, Wu presented for arrival clearance on the strength of the one-way permit and was granted permanent stay in Hong Kong.
"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," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who uses an unlawfully obtained travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years.
Ends/Monday, October 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:06
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