The storm of applications for entry using fake qualifications in Hong Kong has aroused concern. The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) has recently released its latest annual report, which shows that the Council received a total of 5,763 applications for qualification assessment in 2023/24, among which 32 applications for fake qualifications were uncovered, which is the highest in recent years, with an increase of about 45% year-on-year. According to the data, the number of applications with fake qualifications has been on the rise since 2021/22, with a significant increase of 10 applications in the previous year.
According to the Bureau, the Police have been alerted to the cases of false information by applicants applying for entry to Hong Kong and it is expected that the number of cases involving false academic qualifications uncovered will continue to rise in the future.
The Bureau emphasized that the use of forged qualification documents had serious consequences and that it would adopt a zero-tolerance attitude towards false qualifications under all circumstances. The Bureau has been working closely with degree-awarding institutions to strengthen the verification of the authenticity of qualifications submitted by applicants for qualifications assessment, and will also verify the qualifications through databases in other countries or regions. At present, the eight major institutions have already put in place measures to screen for fake qualifications, and the HKCAAVQ regularly shares with the institutions ways to verify qualifications. In the future, the authorities will also study the use of artificial intelligence to detect the authenticity of academic qualifications.
The HKCAA pointed out that 866 applications for qualification assessment were rejected in the previous reporting period. Apart from false qualifications, the reasons for rejection included the qualification not being recognized by the awarding country or region, failure to provide sufficient information, and voluntary withdrawal of the application by the applicant.
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