A 33-year-old female Mainland student was charged at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts with one count of obtaining services by deception and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment today (September 16).

      In July 2024, the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force conducted a joint investigation into a case involving a false academic qualification. The investigation revealed that the defendant was suspected of submitting a false academic certificate of an overseas university to a local university for admission to the master’s programme at the university. After obtaining an offer, the defendant reported the same false academic qualification to ImmD upon her application for an entry permit to study in Hong Kong.
 
      The defendant was intercepted by ImmD staff upon her arrival via Hong Kong International Airport in November last year. The defendant admitted under caution that she had never attended the reported overseas university. She had paid RMB500,000 to an agent to apply for the master's programme and entry permit. The defendant also stated that she applied to the ImmD for the entry permit and attended the programme despite being fully aware that the reported academic qualification was false.
 
      The defendant was subsequently charged with one count of obtaining services by deception. She pleaded guilty to the charge at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts earlier and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment today.
 
      "Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes or causes to be made a false statement to an Immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. Under the Theft Ordinance, a person who by any deception dishonestly obtains services from another shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to the maximum penalty of imprisonment for 10 years" an ImmD spokesman said.
 
      The ImmD urges applicants not to defy the law or be misled into believing that study or residence can be obtained by fraudulent means or false information. The ImmD reiterates that if any person is found to have obtained their student visa/permit or residence status in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, such visa or residence status will be declared invalid according to the laws of Hong Kong, and they will be subject to criminal liability. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin.

Ends/Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:45

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