Regarding the recent investigation at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Business on the fraudulent use of academic qualifications by students in pursuit of a master’s degree, news has emerged that two mainland Chinese women have been arrested by the Hong Kong police. They are facing charges of “using false documents” and “making false statements to immigration officers.”
According to a report from Caixin Net on July 5th, the Hong Kong police have disclosed that the two mainland Chinese women were apprehended during immigration checks, with one of them already facing prosecution. One of the women was identified as a student who applied to the School of Business at the University of Hong Kong in 2023 using forged academic credentials.
The 24-year-old woman was intercepted by Hong Kong immigration authorities while attempting to depart through the Luohu Port, after which she was handed over to the police. She is charged with the crime of “using false documents.” The Eastern District Court conducted a hearing on June 24th and is scheduled to hold another hearing on August 20th.
The other woman, aged 34, was arrested on July 3rd during an immigration check, and the police are still in the process of interrogating her.
Recently, the School of Business at the University of Hong Kong discovered that about 30 students had applied for admission using false overseas academic qualifications, all of whom were Chinese nationals. The investigation is ongoing, and it is anticipated that the number of implicated individuals could rise to between 80 and 100.
In May of this year, the School of Business at the University of Hong Kong was embroiled in a “fake qualifications” scandal. Some master’s students gained admission by presenting counterfeit undergraduate qualifications, prompting the school to conduct a comprehensive review and request all current master’s students to resubmit their undergraduate qualification certifications, transcripts, and other relevant documents.
The Dean of the School of Business, Choi Hong Bing, stated that some students thought that intermediary agencies only assisted in enhancing their academic experiences, crafting application essays, etc., to secure admission, unaware that these intermediaries were falsifying qualifications. However, there were also students and parents who were aware of the deception, and some even actively participated in the forgery. The school is currently deliberating on the appropriate actions to take regarding the implicated students.