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A Mainland woman who entered into a bogus marriage, used a false travel document upon entry and sold collected scrap paper during her stay in Hong Kong, was jailed today (January 17) after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
Lam Mei, 40, was charged with two counts of using a false travel document, four counts of making a false representation to an Immigration officer and one count of breach of condition of stay. She pleaded guilty to all the charges and was sentenced to an effective term of 21 months.
On December 23, 2006, Lam presented for arrival clearance at Lo Wu control point on the strength of a Mainland Entry and Exit Permit in name of Huang Fenjuan and showing her date of birth as December 26, 1968. Record checks confirmed that she had been to Hong Kong under a different identity. She was then detained for further investigations.
Lam admitted she was actually known as Lam Mei and born on April 27, 1966. She had visited Hong Kong many times since 2004 using her true identity but was refused entry twice in 2006. She then procured a false Mainland Entry and Exit Permit through a middleman on the Mainland and used it for travel to Hong Kong. She falsely represented to the Immigration control officers that she was Huang Fenjuan.
Lam further admitted that she had entered into a bogus marriage using her true identity with a Hong Kong resident at a cost of 20,000 renminbi. She intended to make use of the bogus marriage to apply for a "T" exit endorsement to visit Hong Kong. In November 2005, Lam contracted a bogus marriage with her husband on the Mainland. She then made use of the bogus marriage to apply for a "T" endorsement to travel to Hong Kong. She falsely declared to the Immigration control officers that she had come to visit her resident husband.
Since 2004, Lam had been picking up scraps in the streets for sale during each visit to Hong Kong.
"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 uses a false travel document commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, a maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and 14 years' imprisonment.
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.
Moreover, visitors must not take up any employment or establish any business in Hong Kong, without the prior permission of the Director of Immigration. Those who breach the conditions of stay are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Ends/Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:35
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