Hong Kong resident jailed for conspiracy to defraud
A 58-year-old Hong Kong male resident charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud was convicted and sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (July 7).
The Outside Investigation Section of the Immigration Department (ImmD) through intelligence analysis suspected the defendant, acting as a middleman, had arranged for a Hong Kong male resident to enter into a bogus marriage with a Mainland female resident in Hong Kong to assist the Mainland female to obtain visit endorsements and residence status in Hong Kong. The ImmD's comprehensive investigation revealed that the couple registered their marriage in Hong Kong under the arrangement of the defendant in 2023. The defendant subsequently accompanied and assisted the Mainland female resident on multiple occasions in handling relevant documents and application procedures, charging her a total intermediary fee of RMB100,000.
The defendant was subsequently arrested by the ImmD and charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud. After trial, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment yesterday.
The Mainland female resident in the case was previously convicted of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. The Hong Kong male resident who contracted the bogus marriage had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to defraud and is pending sentencing by the court. The investigation of other suspects is still underway, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests.
"The ImmD has been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents staying in Hong Kong by means of a marriage of convenience, 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 ImmD spokesman warned.
Source: AI-found images
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully
The 8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme, attended by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Ms Shirley Lam, together with six Permanent Secretaries of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, successfullyconcluded today (July 8). The Permanent Secretaries who also attended included the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Ms Doris Ho; the Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Mr Kevin Choi; the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Angela Lee; and the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Vic Yau.
This morning, the delegation met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore, Mr Gan Kim Yong, and the Coordinating Minister for Public Services of Singapore, Mr Chan Chun Sing, respectively. They exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, such as on development projects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Northern Metropolis, which present further cooperation opportunities between Hong Kong and Singapore.
Upon arrival in Singapore the day before yesterday (July 6), Ms Lam had a meeting with the Head of Civil Service of Singapore, Mr Chan Heng Kee, to exchange views on civil service management. The Permanent Secretaries of the delegation also had separate meetings with several Permanent Secretaries of Singapore to discuss respective policy areas such as youth development, land planning, innovation and technology, education, trade and transport.
Yesterday (July 7), the delegation had a roundtable discussion with a number of Permanent Secretaries of Singapore to share their latest policies and experience on three key topics, namely AI, citizen engagement and urban planning. Ms Lam said that Hong Kong and Singapore share many similarities, and that the roundtable discussion provided an important platform for civil service leaders of both sides to engage in in-depth and candid exchanges on the common challenges and opportunities, draw reference from each other and explore new areas for collaboration.
While in Singapore, the delegation also visited Punggol for on-site inspections of the Punggol Digital District and One Punggol. They toured the Dawson Estate, a public housing project, and the Gardens by the Bay.
Summing up the three-day Exchange Programme, Ms Lam expressed her gratitude to the Singapore Government for its meticulous arrangement, which enabled the civil services from both sides to engage in in-depth andfrank discussions across various policy areas and to gain inspiration from one another. Following the 7th Exchange Programme hosted by the HKSAR Government in 2023, this delegation visit to Singapore underscores the solid collaborative relationship between the civil services of both places and marks a key milestonein their shared pursuit of excellence in public service. She noted that amid today's ever-changing geopolitical environment, it is particularly important for the two governments to continue deepening their co-operation. She said she looks forward to sustaining this positive spirit of collaboration with Singapore through the Exchange Programme and across various policy domains and occasions, thereby propelling both places to new heights of development.
The delegation of Permanent Secretaries of the HKSAR Government departed for Singapore on July 6, and completed the itinerary before departing for Hong Kong this afternoon.
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
8th Singapore-Hong Kong Permanent Secretaries Exchange Programme concludes successfully Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
