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HK pair acquired fake degrees on the internet
Two local academics have paid for fake certificates from a US diploma mill that sold degrees across the world, a South China Morning Post investigation has found.
Another 22 Hongkongers have been listed among thousands of people who paid for or inquired about diplomas from fake universities in a scheme promoted on the internet.
One college lecturer admitted to the Post he had bought phoney paperwork out of curiosity and just 'for fun', while another lecturer said he had fallen victim to a scam.
Both said they never used the documents - from a fake institute called St Regis University - to gain either employment or a pay rise.
Antonio Frederico do Rego, acting head of the School of Business Administration and Tourism Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong - Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Community College (CUTW), admitted buying a professorship certificate from St Regis University.
'I bought it very quickly. And it's out of curiosity,' he said. 'It's very similar to what people buy online through email, eBay, by credit card.'
Mr Rego, a PhD candidate, has taught in a Macau college and four Hong Kong institutions, including CUTW.
A spokeswoman for CUTW said Mr Rego presented proper credentials when applying for a job, but the school was 'concerned about the incident' and would put the matter before the college council for deliberation by members.
Mr Rego said he bought the St Regis certificate in 2002.
Meanwhile, Anthony Tsui Shu-chuen, a programme director at the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU Space), said he was a 'victim', not a wrong-doer.
Dr Tsui, who sent his resume, research work and payment to 'St Regis', said he felt cheated after applying for St Regis credentials, which he thought were accredited by the State of Arizona and the government of Liberia.
Dr Tsui said he received a PhD degree and a professorship certificate from St Regis about three or four years ago.
'I was a victim. I paid them about US$2,000 or US$3,000,' Dr Tsui said. 'And then I found out that the school was not there. And then I had no way to complain. I was really upset.'
He said he checked with his school about St Regis and found out it was non-existent.
Dr Tsui holds a doctorate degree in business administration from the University of Newcastle in Australia.
In a statement, HKU SPACE said  Dr Tsui has been with the school since 2001, his bachelor and master degrees were authentic when he applied, and three of his higher degrees also had been vetted and accepted.
'In respect of St Regis University, the qualification is not recognised by HKU SPACE,' the school said. 'A serving staff member submitted documentary evidence of a doctoral degree awarded by this university to our Human Resources Department in 2004 for updating his staff record, but this doctorate degree has never been recognised by the school.'
US federal investigators launched a probe into a Spokane, Washington state-based diploma mill in 2005.
The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane last month published thousands of names - including at least 24 from Hong Kong - it said were on the investigators' list of alleged buyers.



Academics  bought  bogus  diplomas