3 August 2012
A male Mainland visitor was convicted of one count of possession of false instrument at Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (August 3) and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.
On March 27, 2012, the 29-year-old defendant and his Mainland pregnant wife, who did not have a confinement booking in Hong Kong, presented their People's Republic of China passports for arrival clearance at Lok Ma Chau Control Point. During examination, the defendant represented to an Immigration Officer that he and his wife were in transit to Jakarta, Indonesia. Two sets of electronic air tickets in their names were produced as proof. At that point, his wife requested medical assistance as she was at an advanced stage of pregnancy. She subsequently gave birth to a baby at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point.
Upon further investigation, the defendant admitted that he purchased the fake electronic air tickets for Indonesia in Shenzhen at a cost of RMB40. He had then presented the said electronic air tickets and falsely represented that he and his wife intended to transit Hong Kong to Indonesia so that his wife could enter Hong Kong for confinement. In fact, they had no intention of going to Indonesia.
"Possession of false instrument is a serious offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment," an Immigration Department spokesman said.