​A Hong Kong resident was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (April 20) for illegal transfer of passport and contracting bogus marriage.

     During an investigation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) on a case of illegal transfer of a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport, a Hong Kong male resident aged 49 was arrested. He admitted under caution that he sold his HKSAR passport to a middleman for a monetary remuneration in 2019. He later falsely stated in his application for a replacement of HKSAR passport that he had lost his passport. He also admitted that under the arrangement of the same middleman, he was paid a monetary reward to contract bogus marriage with a Mainland resident in 2019. An investigation of other suspects is continuing.

     The man was charged at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday for one count of illegal transfer of passport, one count of making false statement and one count of conspiracy to defraud. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for each offence, with parts of the sentences to run consecutively, making a total of 18 months' imprisonment.

     "Under the laws of Hong Kong, it is an offence for anyone to transfer any travel document to another person without reasonable excuse or to furnish false particulars to obtain a travel document. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Meanwhile, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for 14 years. Any person who for the purpose of procuring a marriage, or a certificate or license for marriage, knowingly and wilfully makes a false oath or makes or signs a false declaration is also guilty of an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for seven years and to a fine," an ImmD spokesman warned.

     "The ImmD will continue to spare no effort in combating bogus marriages and related fraud activities of non-local residents. For people who have obtained their residency in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their residence status and Hong Kong identity card will be invalidated according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin. Persons should not defy the law by participating in activities related to bogus marriages anywhere," the spokesman reiterated.

Ends/Friday, April 21, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:13

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