Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun has issued a stern reminder that submitting forged academic credentials when applying for the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) constitutes a serious criminal offence. Speaking at a press briefing on 17 September, Sun said the Immigration Department now requires third-party verification for all overseas degrees cited in high-talent visa applications. The warning follows several high-profile cases in which applicants used counterfeit diplomas and reference letters to obtain study places or employment offers that qualified them for the fast-track visa. Sun stressed that offenders could face imprisonment and permanent loss of the right to reside or work in Hong Kong. For employers, the comments signal tighter compliance expectations. HR teams sponsoring TTPS candidates must ensure credential-checking vendors are recognised by Hong Kong’s Qualifications Framework or international accreditation bodies. Failing to do so may delay onboarding and expose firms to aiding-and-abetting liabilities. Immigration consultants advise companies to build two-step verification—digital document upload followed by university registrar confirmation—into recruitment timelines. They also expect the government to publish an official list of accepted credential evaluators later this year, mirroring schemes in Canada and Singapore.
Source: RTHK
