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A Mainland man has been jailed over a bogus marriage after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (January 15).
Zhuang Daqing, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of making a false representation to an Immigration officer. He was given an effective sentence of 16 months.
On December 22, 2006, Zhuang presented for arrival clearance at Lo Wu control point, saying he was going to visit his resident wife. Doubts about the purpose of visit led to an investigation.
Zhuang admitted that he had agreed with a middleman to enter into a bogus marriage with a Hong Kong woman at a cost of 36,000 renminbi. He intended to make use of the bogus marriage to acquire a "90-day visa" endorsement to seek work in Hong Kong and subsequently to acquire the right of abode here. In April 2006, he contracted the bogus marriage on the Mainland.
"The Immigration Department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriage," a department spokesman said. "A special task force has been set up to gather intelligence through various avenues and a thorough investigation will be conducted once evidence comes to light. If there is enough evidence, the department will prosecute offenders.
"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," the spokesman said.
Under the laws of Hong Kong, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
It is also an offence to make a false representation to immigration officers. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty.
Ends/Monday, January 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:20
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