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A Mainland woman who used a false travel document for entry to Hong Kong for the purpose of bogus marriage was jailed today (February 8) after appearing in the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
Liang Yan-fei, 25, was charged with one count of using a false travel document, one count of making a false representation to an Immigration officer, one count of possessing a false instrument and two counts of conspiracy to defraud. She pleaded guilty to all the charges and was sentenced to an effective term of 18 months.
On January 12, 2007, Liang presented for arrival clearance at Lo Wu control point on the strength of a Mainland Entry and Exit Permit in name of Chen Xiaochen. Given her doubtful purpose of visit, she was referred for further examination. Another set of documents under a different identity of Liang Yan-fei was found in her possession.
Liang admitted that Chen Xiaochen was a false identity. She was in fact coming to Hong Kong to contract a bogus marriage under this identity.
Hoping to come to Hong Kong for job seeking, Liang, through the arrangement of a middleman on the Mainland in 2004, obtained a forged Mainland marriage certificate showing that she was married to a Hong Kong resident whom she had never met. Making use of the forged marriage certificate, she successfully obtained a "90-day" visit endorsement and had made 11 trips to Hong Kong from 2004 to 2006.
Later on, Liang was requested by the Mainland authorities to attend interview with her Hong Kong resident husband during her subsequent application for "90-day" visit endorsement. As she was unable to make it, she turned to another middleman, asking for the arrangement of another bogus marriage with Hong Kong resident under a false identity. In December, 2006, she paid the middleman 3,000 renminbi for a false identity (i.e.Chen) so that she could come to Hong Kong to contract the marriage. She paid another 20,000 renminbi for the cost of the bogus marriage arrangement. Subsequently, she obtained a "7-day" endorsement to facilitate her entry as a visitor under the Individual Visit Scheme and arrived on January 12 when she was intercepted by the Immigration staff.
"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.
"Anyone who has in his custody a false instrument commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 14 years.
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," the spokesman warned.
Ends/Thursday, February 8, 2007
Issued at HKT 21:58
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