A male illegal immigrant from the Mainland was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment yesterday (July 25) by the Shatin Magistrates' Courts.

      In March 2023, two Mainland illegal immigrants attempted to depart Hong Kong at the Lo Wu Control Point by forged Hong Kong landing slips but were successfully apprehended by officers of Immigration Department (ImmD). During investigation, they admitted to having sneaked into Hong Kong and were each convicted for having landed in Hong Kong unlawfully, remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration, making false representation to ImmD officers and using a false instrument and were sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment respectively. After an in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, ImmD officers successfully arrested another illegal immigrant from the Mainland.

      Under caution, the 63-year-old defendant admitted having sneaked into Hong Kong from the Mainland by a fishing vessel with the abovementioned illegal immigrants in October 2022. He also admitted having assisted the duo to remain in Hong Kong unlawfully and arranged the forged Hong Kong landing slips for them. The defendant was charged with remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully, aiding and abetting others to remain in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully, and possessing false instruments. He pledged guilty at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts and was sentenced to a total of 24 months' imprisonment yesterday.

      "It is an offence to remain in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and fine of $25,000. Those aiding and abetting such crimes are liable to the same penalty. It is an offence to make, possess or use false instruments or copies of false instruments. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment," an ImmD spokesman said.

Ends/Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:06

NNNN