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.
Shatin Magistrates' Courts, Shatin Law Courts Building
RTHK stages "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" promoting Shanghai - Hong Kong cultural exchange through music
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) today (July 23) held the "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" in Shanghai, comprising a three-week RTHK Vinyl Pop Up and an evening Cantopop party, showcasing Hong Kong's strong musical soft power and further promoting cultural exchanges and integration between Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Broadcasting, Ms Angelina Kwan, said music is a medium that transcends geographical and linguistic boundaries. RTHK hopes to use Cantopop as a bridge, leveraging Hong Kong's unique cultural soft power to deepen cultural ties between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, while also bringing the RTHK Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs brand beyond Hong Kong to a wider stage in the Chinese-language music scene.
As a highlight of the event, the RTHK Vinyl Pop Up showcases a collection of treasured items from RTHK's music archive, including about 130 classic vinyl records from different eras, as well as trophies and programme booklets from past editions of Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards. The exhibition features an audiovisual zone and a photo zone, offering visitors an immersive experience to relive the development of Hong Kong popular music. Visitors can write song requests and messages, with selected entries to be read out on RTHK programmes such as "Music Lover" and have a chance to win attractive prizes.
The RTHK Vinyl Pop Up will run from tomorrow (July 24) to August 13 at WYSH, Changning District, Shanghai. Opening hours are 10am to 7pm from Monday to Friday, and 10am to 8.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.
The "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" is co-organised by RTHK, the Shanghai Hong Kong Association, the Shanghai Fraternity Association and the Federation of Hong Kong - Shanghai Associations, with the Shanghai Chinese Overseas Friendship Association as the guiding unit and Dragon Television as the media partner. Co-organisers include K Wah International Holdings Limited and the Shanghai Defa International Trading Co, Ltd. Supporting organisations include the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Shanghai Public Relations Association, the Shanghai Changning Overseas Friendship Association, the Shanghai Xuhui Overseas Chinese Friendship Association, the United Prospect Elite Association, the Hong Kong - Shanghai Youth Association, the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd, IFPI (Hong Kong Group), the Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance Limited and the Hong Kong Record Merchants Association.
RTHK stages "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" promoting Shanghai - Hong Kong cultural exchange through music Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
RTHK stages "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" promoting Shanghai - Hong Kong cultural exchange through music Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
RTHK stages "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" promoting Shanghai - Hong Kong cultural exchange through music Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
RTHK stages "Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs - Shanghai Gold Songs Showcase" promoting Shanghai - Hong Kong cultural exchange through music Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
