A woman from mainland China has been jailed in Hong Kong for 15 months after entering a false marriage in an attempt to give birth in the territory.
The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of conspiracy to obtain services at Sha Tin Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The court heard how the woman married a Hong Kong resident in Hong Kong on July 2014 and obtained a Confirmation Certificate on Delivery Booking to have a baby at a private hospital later that year.
When she tried to come to Hong Kong again for delivery in September 2014, however, she was refused permission to land by immigration officials who were doubtful about the marriage.
After giving birth on the mainland, the woman again attempted to fly to Hong Kong on Aug. 6 this year but was arrested.
Under caution, the new mother admitted paying a middle man HKD20,000 to arrange the sham marriage so she could have her baby in Hong Kong.
“The Immigration Department is concerned about the situation of non-local pregnant women seeking to give birth in Hong Kong by illegal means. While great efforts are made to intercept non-local pregnant women without a confinement booking at the control points, vigorous enforcement actions have also been taken to combat related immigration offences committed by non-local pregnant women and their abettors,” an Immigration Department spokesman said.
He added that the woman got off relatively lightly, with the maximum penalty for conspiracy to defraud being 14 years in jail, and the maximum penalty for using deception to obtain services being 10 years in jail.
Photo: Jerry Lai
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