A 76-year-old man charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud was convicted and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (March 18).

     The Outside Investigation Section of the Immigration Department (ImmD) through intelligence analysis suspected the defendant had contracted a bogus marriage for obtaining residence status in Hong Kong. After a comprehensive investigation, the defendant was found to have conspired with his Mainland resident son and married his former sister-in-law, a Hong Kong resident, in 2011 under the arrangement of his son. By virtue of the marital relationship, the defendant and his son settled in Hong Kong and obtained residence status in Hong Kong in 2017 and 2021 respectively. The defendant divorced his bogus spouse after settling in Hong Kong.

     The defendant was subsequently arrested by the ImmD and charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud. After trial, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment yesterday. The investigation of other suspects is still underway, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.

     "The ImmD has been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents staying in Hong Kong by means of a marriage of convenience, and will continue to spare no effort in combating the related illicit activities. For people who have obtained their residence in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their Hong Kong identity card and residence status will be invalidated according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin," the ImmD spokesman stressed.

     "According to the Immigration Ordinance, any person who makes any statement or representation which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true to immigration officers commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, face a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and the same penalties. Moreover, according to the Crimes Ordinance, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years," the ImmD spokesman warned.

Ends/Thursday, March 19, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:30

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