15 Jul 2014
A Mainland woman was charged with one count of making a false statutory declaration at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment today (July 15).
The 33-year old defendant arrived in Hong Kong as a visitor on February 16 and she went to the Accident and Emergency Department for delivery without prior booking on May 10. Upon birth registration of her newly born son at the birth registry on May 16, the defendant made a false statutory declaration to the registration officer that she came to Hong Kong to take care of her elder Hong Kong-born daughter and had no intention to give birth in Hong Kong. During the investigation the defendant admitted under caution that in fact she had decided to give birth in Hong Kong when she came on February 16. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.
The Immigration spokesman warned that under the laws of Hong Kong, any person who knowingly and wilfully makes a false statutory declaration shall be liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to imprisonment for up to two years and a fine.