1 November 2019
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 15 months' imprisonment on October 30.
The 23-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor and went to an Accident and Emergency Department for delivery without prior booking. Investigation revealed that the defendant was asked by an immigration staff member about her pregnancy status during arrival examination upon arrival at Lo Wu 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. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts on October 30.
"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.