13 mainland Chinese applicants to Hong Kong talent scheme among 18 held over forgeries

Hong Kong immigration authorities have arrested 18 people over a “one-stop service” to gain residency, including 13 talent scheme applicants from mainland China who are each suspected of paying HK$2.5 million (US$318,470) for fake documents such as academic qualifications. Hui Chi-kin, an assistant principal immigration officer, said on Wednesday that the case was the first time the Immigration Department had uncovered a criminal syndicate targeting applicants for the government’s Top Talent Pass Scheme. The syndicate was believed to have been operating for 1½ years. The department estimated that the group had worked on at least 22 applications, with each case potentially costing clients up to HK$2.5 million, earning the criminals as much as HK$55 million in proceeds. Hui said the cross-border syndicate was identified by an intelligence-led investigation. Officers launched an enforcement operation in April and arrested five alleged core members of the syndicate, including the mastermind. All five, aged 42 to 56, are Hong Kong residents. The mastermind and core syndicate members were each provisionally charged with one count of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring another for making a false representation for the purpose of obtaining an entry permit. The 13 arrested applicants, aged 27 to 47, were each charged with one count of causing a false statement to be made for the purpose of obtaining an entry permit. Hui said the syndicate used mainland social media platforms to find people interested in relocating to Hong Kong and sent them direct messages to promote its “one-stop service”. “In their promotions, the criminal syndicate even touted that applicants could successfully obtain Hong Kong resident status without having to live in Hong Kong for an extended period,” Hui said. He said the group charged an initial intermediate fee of about HK$1 million to HK$1.5 million per application, which covered obtaining fake overseas university degrees, student visas and overseas immigration stamps and providing false employment proof to help in the application submission. If the application was approved, the group would then charge an additional HK$600,000 to HK$1 million for “aftercare” services. “These services included accompanying them and their dependants to Hong Kong to process their Hong Kong identity cards, arranging rental housing, fabricating local employment and salary records and using these false documents to handle future applications for an extension of stay until they secured permanent residency,” Hui said. “Syndicate members are also suspected of money laundering through suspicious transactions involving multiple company and personal accounts.” Investigators searched the homes and vehicles of the syndicate’s alleged mastermind and core members, seizing multiple laptops, mobile phones, suspected fake employment contracts, ledgers, bank cards, chequebooks and ATM deposit slips. The department reminded talent scheme applicants that they should not use an intermediary. “Individuals interested in moving to Hong Kong should not blindly trust claims from agents who guarantee a successful application. Providing false information to the Immigration Department is a serious offence that can lead to criminal liability,” Hui warned. In Hong Kong, making, possessing or using false documents is a serious offence punishable by up to 14 years behind bars. Anyone who makes a false representation to an immigration officer can also face the same prison term, along with a maximum fine of HK$150,000. Those who aid and abet in these offences are subject to the same penalties. Hong Kong launched the talent scheme in December 2022, aiming to attract top graduates from around the globe, as well as professionals and entrepreneurs to counter the city’s brain drain following the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme is open to individuals who earned at least HK$2.5 million annually in the year before applying, or graduates of top universities, to obtain a visa to work in Hong Kong. Successful candidates under the graduate path can stay in the city for two years, while high-income applicants get three years. The scheme is renewable, allowing eligible individuals to extend their stay by demonstrating they are employed, running a business or contributing to the Hong Kong economy. The scheme has received about 135,000 applications, with 109,000 approved as of June. About 40 per cent, or 32,000, were from recent graduates from elite universities. Hui said the department would strictly vet every application and increase the frequency of random checks. He added that the department had required applicants for the scheme under the graduate path to submit certified academic credentials from a designated third-party authentication body or the issuing institution since last month.

13 mainland Chinese applicants to Hong Kong talent scheme among 18 held over forgeries

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Applicants accused of paying syndicate HK$2.5 million each to obtain fake documents such as academic qualifications to gain residency

Applicants accused of paying syndicate HK$2.5 million each to obtain fake documents such as academic qualifications to gain residency