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A Mainland woman, who entered into a bogus marriage and gave false information upon applying for her nominal husband's birth records, was jailed today (December 14) after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
The 39-year-old Mainlander, Guo Xiuji, was charged with one count of attempting to mislead a member of the Immigration Service by giving false information and one count of conspiracy to defraud. She pleaded guilty to the two charges and was sentenced to an effective term of 12 months.
On November 14, Guo approached a birth registry to apply for the birth records of a Chan Kwok-keung. She filed an application stating that Chan was her husband and also submitted a copy of his Hong Kong birth certificate to support her application. Record checks confirmed that the information provided was not correct and Immigration investigators then took over the case.
Guo admitted under caution that she intended to make use of the bogus marriage to apply for a "T" endorsement for travelling to Hong Kong. She entered into a bogus marriage with Chan in June in Quanzhou. She approached the Mainland authorities to apply for a "T" endorsement after the marriage, but the application was turned down as the original of Chan's Hong Kong birth certificate was required. She then came to Hong Kong to apply for it.
An Immigration spokesman said the department had been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents obtaining the right to stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriages. "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 the 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 misleads a member of the Immigration Service by giving false information commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, a maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Moreover, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
Ends/Thursday, December 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:36
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