A Shatin magistrate on 12 November allowed a 37-year-old mainland Chinese man accused of using a forged university degree to support his Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) application to leave Hong Kong while on bail. The court accepted defence arguments that the travel restriction jeopardised his Macau employment and separated him from family on the mainland. The defendant—charged with one count of “using a false instrument”—must post HK$400,000 cash bail, provide a HK$100,000 surety, report to police twice weekly and avoid contact with witnesses. His passport and home-return permit will be returned, enabling cross-border movement until the trial resumes on 10 February 2027 when a Thai academic is scheduled to testify via video link. The ruling highlights judicial discretion in balancing flight-risk against livelihood concerns, a topic that matters to mobility managers whose assignees sometimes face parallel civil or criminal proceedings. Lawyers say defendants with verifiable employment, strong family ties and sizable sureties stand a better chance of securing limited travel rights. For companies, the case is a reminder to verify academic credentials thoroughly before sponsoring staff under talent admission schemes. The Immigration Department has increasingly collaborated with overseas universities to detect falsified documents; offences carry up to 14 years’ imprisonment. Mobility practitioners should monitor bail conditions of any employee under investigation, as breaching travel restrictions can void insurance, immigration status and employment contracts.
Source: Newsdesk.hk
