*********************************
A Hong Kong woman who fraudulently married two Mainland men was today (March 2) jailed for 18 months after appearing in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court.
The court was told that the woman, Ho Mei-po, 38, was paid $12,000 for the first marriage in October, 2006, and another $12,000 for the second married last November. Ho pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud and four counts of aiding and abetting the making of a false representation to an Immigration officer.
Ho's bogus husbands, Chen Gexiong, 38, and Zou Zhongning, 39, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of making a false representation to an Immigration officer. They pleaded guilty to all the charges. Chen was given an effective sentence of 18 months and Zou 15 months.
On January 4, 2007, Chen arrived in Hong Kong with a Mainland Entry and Exit Permit with a "90-day visa" endorsement and declared to the Immigration control officer that he was going to visit his resident wife, Ho. The officer had doubts about the purpose of Chen's visit and he was detained for further investigation.
Chen admitted he had agreed with a middleman to enter into a bogus marriage with a Hong Kong resident at a cost of 30,000 renminbi. He intended to use the bogus marriage to acquire a "90-day visa" endorsement to seek work in Hong Kong. In October, 2006, Chen and Ho registered their marriage on the Mainland. Chen made visits to Hong Kong after the marriage, declaring to the Immigration control officers that he came to visit his resident wife, Ho.
Records revealed that Ho had married another Mainland resident Zou in November, 2006.
Zou subsequently admitted that he had entered into a bogus marriage with Ho in November, 2006, at a cost of 27,000 renminbi. He intended to use the bogus marriage to acquire a "90-day visa" endorsement to seek work in Hong Kong. Zou made visits to Hong Kong after the marriage, declaring to the Immigration control officers that he came to visit his resident wife, Ho.
"The department has been very concerned with non-Hong Kong residents obtaining the right to stay in Hong Kong by means of bogus marriages," 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 the offenders.
"For people who have obtained their residency 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 commits the offence of conspiracy is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years.
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.
Ends/Friday, March 2, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:40
NNNN
