27 April 2017
Five Mainland visitors were jailed at Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (April 27).
To cope with Mainland visitors who had abused the existing transit arrangement for holders of People's Republic of China (PRC) passports, the Immigration Department (ImmD) conducted an operation codenamed "Breakshadow" at Lo Wu Control Point, Lok Ma Chau Control Point, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Control Point on April 25. During the operation, seven female Mainland visitors, aged 21 to 55, were arrested. A total of seven invalid onward flight tickets were also unearthed in the operation. Upon arrival for immigration clearance, the arrested Mainland visitors falsely told Immigration Officers that they were in transit through Hong Kong to other countries. Upon further investigation by the ImmD, they admitted that their actual purpose of visit was not to transit via Hong Kong to other countries but for sightseeing in Hong Kong.
Among the arrestees, five were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts today of making false representation to immigration officers. They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. The other two cases were adjourned.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to Immigration Officers commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty will be a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. In addition, if Mainland visitors abuse the existing transit arrangement for holders of PRC passports by not departing for other countries or territories according to their original itinerary, relevant information will be recorded by the ImmD. Upon their next arrival, immigration officers at control points will conduct detailed examination before a decision to grant or refuse permission to land is made.