Publications and Press Releases

20 January 2023

A Mainland man was charged at the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts with two counts of making false representation to an Immigration Department (ImmD) staff member, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment today (January 20).

The 56-year-old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor. During his stay, the defendant submitted applications for an extension of stay to the ImmD, and claimed his reason for the extension was visiting his wife in Hong Kong. The ImmD later found out that the defendant's wife was already out of Hong Kong prior to the defendant's arrival and thus began an investigation against the defendant.

In the course of the investigation, the defendant admitted under caution that when submitting his extension applications, he declared to Immigration staff that he was to visit his wife in Hong Kong, although he clearly knew that his wife was not in Hong Kong. The defendant was subsequently charged with the offence of making false representation to Immigration staff for the reason of extension. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today.

"Under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who makes false representation to an Immigration officer comsmits 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 ImmD spokesman said.