Mainland resident jailed for conspiracy to defraud
A 53yearold Mainland male resident charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud was convicted and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by Sha Tin Magistrates' Courtsyesterday (March 30).
The Immigration Department (ImmD) received intelligence earlier that the defendant had submitted a suspected forged Hong Kong marriage certificate to obtain an endorsement for visit and residence status in Hong Kong. Upon verification by ImmD staff, discrepancies between the marriage certificate and the records were identified. The ImmD notified the Mainland authorities of the verification results for their follow-up actions, and an investigation against the defendant began. The said application of the defendant was not approved.
The defendant was intercepted by ImmD staff upon his arrival via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on November 11, 2025. In the course of the investigation, the defendant admitted under caution that in order to settle in Hong Kong, he paid RMB10,000 to a middleman as a reward to obtain the forged Hong Kong marriage certificate and submitted the said certificate to the Mainland authorities for his application. The defendant was charged with conspiracy to defraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts yesterday.
"The ImmD has been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents staying in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, and will continue to spare no effort in combating the related illicit activities. For people who have obtained their residence in Hong Kong by fraudulent means, their Hong Kong identity card and residence status will be invalidated according to the laws of Hong Kong. They will also be subject to removal back to their place of origin," the ImmD spokesman stressed.
"According to the Immigration Ordinance, any person who makes any statement or representation which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true to immigration officers commits an offence. Offenders are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, face a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and the same penalties. Moreover, according to the Crimes Ordinance, anyone who commits the offence of conspiracy to defraud is liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years," the spokesman warned.
Source: AI-found images
Auction of traditional vehicle registration marks to be held on April 18
The Transport Department (TD) today (March 31) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on April 18 (Saturday) in Meeting Room S421, L4, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
"A total of 420 traditional vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.
For the auction of TVRMs, only registration marks starting with "HK" or "XX" and special vehicle registration marks are put up for physical auction. Applicants should attend the auction and take note of the opening price as announced by the auctioneer before participating in the bidding of the mark.
People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:
(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.
(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.
(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.
(4) The display of a vehicle registration mark on a motor vehicle should be in compliance with the requirements stipulated in Schedule 4 to the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations.
(5) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.
(6) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.
For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes - Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html.
Source: AI-found images
