15 January 2015
Two Mainland women who were each charged with one count of making false representation to an immigration officer, and with one of them additionally charged with one count of breach of condition of stay, were sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and 12 months' imprisonment respectively at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today (January 15).
The 30-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor on July 3, 2014, and rushed to an Accident and Emergency Department for delivery without prior booking on September 15, 2014. Investigation revealed that the defendant was asked by an immigration staff member about her pregnancy status upon arrival at the Airport Control Point and she claimed she was not pregnant. The defendant was subsequently charged with one count of making false representation to immigration staff on her pregnancy status, and she was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts today.
The other defendant, aged 19, arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor on June 26, 2014, and overstayed when her limit of stay expired. The defendant rushed to an Accident and Emergency Department for delivery without prior booking on September 12, 2014. Investigation revealed that the defendant was asked by an immigration staff member about her pregnancy status upon arrival at the Macau Ferry Terminal Control Point and she claimed she was not pregnant. The defendant was subsequently charged with one count of making false representation to immigration staff on her pregnancy status and one count of breach of condition of stay, and she was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment at Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today.
The spokesman warned that visitors who breach their conditions of stay will be liable to prosecution under the laws of Hong Kong and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years. Moreover, 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.