Unscrupulous individuals are exploiting the marriage system for illicit gains, using sham marriages to help non-local individuals obtain Hong Kong residency rights, forming organized criminal syndicates.
Hong Kong's Immigration Department (IMMD) noted that, although the number of sham marriage cases decreased last year, the tactics employed by these syndicates have become more "sophisticated." These include luring Hong Kong residents under pretenses, such as recruiting "marriage assistants" or "wedding coordinators," or using platforms like buying/selling sites or dating sites under the guise of "quick money" or "matchmaking" to find Hong Kong residents willing to enter into sham marriages with non-locals. The IMMD also mentioned a trend of younger "puppet partners" in Hong Kong.
Hui Chi-kin, IMMD's Assistant Principal Immigration Officer (Investigations), said in a recent interview that 531 sham marriage cases were recorded last year, a decrease from 544 in 2024 and 627 in 2023. During the same period, 710 people were arrested, also fewer than the 749 in 2024 and 898 in 2023. Those arrested included intermediaries from the syndicates, involved Hong Kong residents, and non-local residents. Most of those convicted received immediate imprisonment sentences ranging from 4 to 24 months. For ringleaders or core members, sentences can reach 36 to 48 months, reflecting the severity of their crimes.
Collaboration with Mainland yields enforcement results
According to Hui, the department's task force has enhanced intelligence gathering and proactive investigations, and established a notification mechanism with Mainland enforcement agencies, improving the efficiency of cross-boundary crackdowns. Due to significant enforcement results, criminal syndicates now find it more difficult to successfully recruit residents.
Acting Chief Immigration Officer Tang Wai-yip added that the IMMD launched a joint operation with Mainland enforcement authorities in November last year to combat cross-boundary sham marriage syndicates. One case involved a Hong Kong female student in her early 20s who, having overspent and accumulated over HK$100,000 in credit card debt, searched for "quick money" advertisements on an online second-hand trading platform and was recruited to participate in a sham marriage.
The syndicate told the student she would receive HK$100,000 within three days simply for registering a marriage with a non-local resident on the Mainland. Following instructions, she processed the documents and was accompanied by syndicate members to the Mainland for the marriage registration. However, she received only HK$30,000 afterward, with the syndicate claiming the remaining payment would be made only after the spouse successfully obtained Hong Kong residency. Although she suspected she had been deceived, she felt unable to withdraw and was eventually arrested.
Hui noted that as the IMMD continues its stringent crackdown on sham marriages, coupled with societal progress and technological development, the methods of sham marriage syndicates have also evolved, becoming more covert than before. Recruitment has shifted from newspaper advertisements to online trading platforms, social media, instant messaging apps, and even dating applications in an attempt to evade detection. Some cases are even disguised as job opportunities, using titles like "matchmaker," "wedding coordinator," or "marriage assistant" to recruit, promising high salaries or internship opportunities to lure job seekers into signing marriage documents unaware, ultimately entrapping them in illegal activities.
Paying commissions to recruit more "spouses"
Hui indicated that these cases also reflect a trend of younger recruitment targets. Young people are often single, have limited financial means, and possess less mature legal awareness, making them more susceptible to the allure of "quick money" schemes. Their frequent use of the internet also increases their risk.
In the past, there were cases where Hong Kong residents registered marriages with multiple Mainland residents in different locations within a short period to help them obtain identification. However, as relevant cross-boundary review mechanisms have tightened, syndicates now typically arrange only a single marriage registration to lower the risk of detection.
Furthermore, the IMMD has discovered that some syndicates use commission systems, encouraging Hong Kong residents already involved in sham marriages to recruit others, thereby expanding their networks and seeking greater illicit profits.
"Cheat sheets" detail fake spouse information
Law enforcement often requires outsmarting criminals in the fight against crime. According to the IMMD, criminal syndicates involved in sham marriages often arrange for the involved parties to complete marriage procedures on the Mainland to avoid Hong Kong's stricter procedures.
Additionally, to prepare for questioning by the IMMD during residency applications, these syndicates provide detailed "cheat sheet" notes and staged lifestyle photos for the involved parties, attempting to create a false impression of a cohabiting couple. To deal with this, the IMMD employs methods such as interrogation, visits, and record verification to continuously investigate and crack down on these illegal activities.
"Sham marriage cases are typically planned and arranged by cross-boundary syndicates. Intermediaries are tasked with identifying and matching individuals on both sides. To reduce the risk of exposure during Hong Kong marriage procedures, these syndicates often choose to register the marriages on the Mainland," said Hui.
Hong Kong has stricter mechanisms for cross-boundary marriages. Immigration officers conduct detailed inquiries into the backgrounds of both spouses, how they met, and details of their daily lives, which can easily pressure "puppet spouses" and lead to inconsistencies. Therefore, illicit syndicates prefer to have the marriage registered on the Mainland first, followed by planned applications to come to Hong Kong.
Staged photos, false image
The IMMD displayed props used in some cases, including "cheat sheets" carried by applicants during residency interviews. These sheets detailed the fake spouse's name, occupation, address, family member information, and even listed the marriage date, matchmaker's name, and children's names, aiming for seamless answers during questioning. Some intermediaries even offer one-stop services, arranging for the fake couple to take staged photos—holding hands while walking, sharing intimate meals—to create an illusion of a loving relationship. Some even printed these photos to carry with them, though the excessiveness raised suspicion.
High returns are not guaranteed; high risks are certain
Participating in a sham marriage not only breaks the law but can also lead to a series of practical problems.
The IMMD recently cracked a sham marriage case involving a man in his 50s. Addicted to gambling and deeply in debt, he was introduced by a friend and an intermediary to marry a non-local woman for HK$30,000. The IMMD later launched an investigation based on intelligence analysis and arrested him.
Unexpectedly, after his arrest, the man also sought help from the IMMD. He explained that he had developed a serious illness in recent years and was worried that his estate would be inherited by his "spouse" after his death. He wanted to initiate divorce proceedings, but found the spouse had long since lost contact. He could only unilaterally apply to dissolve the marriage, filled with regret.
Some other residents involved in sham marriages also find themselves unable to contact their "spouse" afterward. If they seek a divorce, they must hire a lawyer independently, incurring not only high costs but also significant mental stress. Even if a divorce is eventually granted, the other party may later make claims for alimony or asset division. The potential liabilities are unpredictable, leading to endless long-term troubles.
Hui noted that in many cases, Mainland individuals involved in sham marriages intend to apply for One-way Permits (Permits for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao) to come to Hong Kong for work. However, as the Mainland's issuance of One-way Permits involves strict review, requiring proof of reunification with a spouse in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong "puppet spouses" arranged by syndicates often lose contact after the marriage, the Mainland "spouses" frequently fail to obtain approval for the permits. Despite this, some Mainland individuals have already paid substantial fees to the syndicates, ultimately losing both their money and their chance to come to Hong Kong.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Li Qianxun; English Editor: Darius)
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