Hong Kong man jailed 11 months for sham marriage to aid mainland resident

A 48-year-old Hong Kong man was sentenced to 11 months and 10 days’ imprisonment on January 22 at Sha Tin Magistrates’ Courts on Friday after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud in a sham marriage case.

Immigration Department investigations into a suspected bogus marriage revealed the defendant entered a fake marriage with a mainland resident in 2008, arranged through an intermediary, to help the mainland resident obtain a visit endorsement and Hong Kong residency. 

He received HK$5,000 as payment. The defendant admitted the offense under caution.

The mainland “spouse” was convicted of conspiracy to defraud in 2011 and jailed for 12 months. 

The Immigration Department continues probing other involved parties and may make further arrests.

An Immigration Department spokesman stressed ongoing efforts to combat bogus marriages used to fraudulently gain Hong Kong residency. 

Those obtaining residency by deception face identity card cancellation, residency revocation, and repatriation. Under the Immigration Ordinance, making false statements to officers carries a maximum fine of HK$150,000 and 14 years’ imprisonment, with accomplices equally liable. Conspiracy to defraud under the Crimes Ordinance also carries up to 14 years’ imprisonment.