Guangdong police will strengthen cooperation with their Hong
Kong and Macao counterparts in fighting illegal emigration to the
two special administrative regions through fake marriages with
local residents.
"Police in the three regions will soon establish a special
coordination and investigation system to help fight the illegal
practice," police officer Xiao Shengxian from Guangdong provincial
bureau of public security, said yesterday.
Guangdong police will cooperate closely with their Hong Kong and
Macao counterparts to stop this illegal cross-border activity that
has been going on for sometime, Xiao said.
It has affected Guangdong province's normal exit and entry
operations and social order, Xiao said.
Hong Kong residents too have been investigated for charging fees
to mainlanders to obtain marriage certificates. The fees range from
a few thousand yuan to more that 50,000 yuan (US$6,500). The
marriages usually take place in different Guangdong cities.
By going through these fake marriages, mainlanders hope to get
the right of abode in Hong Kong.
"The police will also boost cooperation with the Guangdong
provincial bureau of civil affairs, customs and exercise, and
immigration departments in Hong Kong and Macao," Xiao said.
A special campaign focusing on fighting fake marriages will soon
be launched in collaboration with the police forces and immigration
departments of the two special administrative regions, Xiao
said.
Fake marriages have been on the increase recently, he said.
In January, four cross-border fake marriage certificate offices
were raided and three criminal gangs were arrested in the Shenzhen
Special Economic Zone.
Twenty people were arrested, 15 from the mainland and five from
Hong Kong.
Police in the Guangdong cities of Zhuhai, Yunfu, Shaoguan,
Shanwei, and Jiangmen have also cracked down on the illegal
practice in recent months.
(China Daily May 25, 2007)