2 January 2015
A Mainland woman was charged at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with one count of making false representation to an immigration officer and sentenced to six months' imprisonment today (January 2).
The 35-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor in June 2014. During arrival examination, she claimed to an immigration officer that she was not pregnant. In October 2014, the defendant attempted to enter Hong Kong again while she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. After immigration examination, she was refused permission to land and repatriated to the Mainland by an immigration officer. Investigation also ensued. After giving birth in the Mainland in November 2014, the defendant was arrested when intending to enter Hong Kong again in December 2014. She was charged with one count of making false representation to an immigration officer upon arrival in June 2014 on her pregnancy status. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today.
"Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to an immigration officer commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, subject to the maximum penalty of a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years," an Immigration Department spokesman said.