************************************************************
A Mainlander was jailed last Friday (January 29) by the Shatin Magistrates' Courts for using a false travel document and possessing a forged identity card.
Mainlander Chen Liying, 42, pleaded guilty to six charges, namely (i) using a false travel document upon arrival, (ii) making false representation on her identity upon arrival, (iii) possession of a forged identity card, (iv) using a false instrument, (v) resisting a member of the Immigration Service and (vi) misleading a member of the Immigration Service by making a false statement. She was sentenced to a total of 21 months' imprisonment.
On January 27, 2010, Chen was intercepted by Immigration officers at a food stall in Mongkok where she was working as a waitress. Upon a request for an identity check, Chen tried to escape. When the immigration officer grabbed Chen's arm, she vigorously resisted and strongly pushed her away. The officer suffered an abrasion on her lower lip and on both hands. Chen was subsequently subdued by other officers.
In the course of the investigation, Chen told the officer that her name was Chen Xijuan and presented a Chinese Permit in the name of Chen Xijuan with year of birth 1963 for the officer's inspection. However, a copy of a forged Hong Kong permanent identity card bearing her photo but a different name was found in the employee records of the food stall.
Under caution, Chen admitted that she was properly known as Chen Liying, born in 1967. In 2007, she came to Hong Kong under her true identity. On that occasion, she was arrested for immigration offences and repatriated after serving a prison term. In order to come to Hong Kong again, she paid $3,500 to a middleman in Shantou to arrange a Chinese Permit for her under a bogus identity. She later received a Chinese Permit in the name of Chen Xijuan with year of birth 1963. She then entered Hong Kong under the bogus identity in March 2008. For job hunting, she paid $300 to a middleman to arrange a forged Hong Kong identity card for her. She kept the forged Hong Kong identity card in the name of Chan Mei Wa and used it to secure a job at the food stall. She also furnished a copy of the forged Hong Kong identity card as an employee record. She admitted that she deliberately misled the immigration officer that she was Chen Xijuan in the course of the investigation with the intention to conceal her previous record of conviction.
"Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who uses a false travel document commits an offence. It is also an offence to make false representation to immigration officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," an immigration spokesman said.
The spokesman warned that it was an offence in law to use or possess a forged identity card. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and imprisonment for 10 years.
The spokesman also warned that it was an offence in law to use a false instrument. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. It was also an offence in law for any person to assault, resist or obstruct any member of the Immigration Service. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:47
NNNN
