PolyU undergrad took global English test on behalf of mainland student

A year-one accounting undergraduate at Polytechnic University has been ordered to perform 80 hours of community service for helping a mainland student rig a global English test last July.

Lo Wai-shun, 24, had earlier admitted using a false mainland Chinese passport to sit the International English Language Testing System - better known as IELTS - at the Regal Kowloon Hotel on July 19 last year.

He was trying to help a mainlander who had poor English skills but wanted to study overseas, Kowloon City Court heard.

Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen warned Lo yesterday his offence was serious.

"Do not mistake community service as a lighter alternative to other forms of sentencing," Law said, adding that it was no less serious a punishment than an immediate custodial sentence.

Earlier, the court heard Lo met a friend while studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The friend told him about the mainlander and asked him to do them a favour by sitting the test on behalf of this student. An invigilator found Lo's fake passport suspicious and reported to police.