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A Mainland woman who entered into a bogus marriage with a Hong Kong resident, was jailed today (January 31) after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
Zhou Mengzhu, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of making a false representation to an Immigration officer and was sentenced to an effective term of 18 months.
On December 28, 2006, Zhou presented for departure clearance at Lo Wu control point. She was suspected to have entered into a bogus marriage and was detained for further investigation.
Zhou admitted she had agreed with a middleman to enter into a bogus marriage with a Hong Kong resident at a cost of 7,000 renminbi. She intended to make use of the bogus marriage to acquire a "90-day visa" endorsement to seek work in Hong Kong. In January, 2006, Zhang married her bogus husband in Hong Kong.
After the bogus marriage, Zhang made three visits to Hong Kong in 2006, declaring to the Immigration control officers that she came to visit her resident husband.
"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, it is 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/Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:06
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