A Mainland resident was charged with one count of furnishing false particulars to a registration officer, one count of using an identity card relating to another person and one count of failing to return an identity card for cancellation, and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by the Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (April 11).

     The 61-year-old female defendant went to Tuen Mun Smart Identity Card Replacement Centre and impersonated her younger sister, who had passed away in the Mainland, to apply for replacement of a new smart identity card on February 24. During the application process, the registration officer at the replacement centre found that the fingerprints of the defendant did not match the related records. Investigators from the Immigration Department (ImmD) then began an investigation of the defendant.

     In the course of the investigation, the defendant admitted to having impersonated her deceased younger sister to apply for replacement of a new smart identity card, in order to handle her sister's property matter in the Mainland. The defendant was subsequently charged with the offences of furnishing false particulars to a registration officer, using an identity card relating to another person and failing to return an identity card for cancellation.The defendant pleaded guilty to all the charges at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday and was sentenced to a total of 12 months' imprisonment.

     "Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who furnishes false particulars to a registration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years. Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse uses or has in his custody or possession an identity card which relates to another person commits an offence. Offenders are liable upon conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 10 years. Furthermore, upon the death of a person to whom an identity card was issued, his identity card shall cease to be valid and the person in possession of his card shall deliver it within 30 days after the date of the death to the registration officer for cancellation. Any person who fails to return an identity card for cancellation commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for one year," an ImmD spokesman said.

Ends/Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:40

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