香港入境事務處近日公布的數據顯示，過去一年針對「假結婚」的執法與調查行動明顯加強，全年共調查531宗涉嫌假結婚案件，並拘捕多達710人，反映相關問題在本地仍然相當嚴重，也已形成一條隱蔽但成熟的非法鏈條。所謂「假結婚」，通常是指香港居民與非本地居民在缺乏真實婚姻關係的情況下，透過金錢交易或其他利益安排，進行形式上的婚姻登記，目的是協助非本地人士取得居留資格，從而規避正常的入境或移民審批制度。

在已披露的個案中，有一宗特別引起關注：一名年約二十多歲的女學生，因個人信用卡欠款壓力沉重，在經濟困境下被中介或相關人士游說，最終同意以約十萬港元的報酬，與一名非本地居民進行假結婚。該名學生在接受調查時承認，雙方並無實際感情基礎，也沒有共同生活的打算，整個婚姻安排僅是為了換取金錢與居留便利。這類案例凸顯出，假結婚不僅涉及移民管制問題，也反映出部分年輕人因財務壓力、債務問題或對法律後果認知不足，而誤入灰色甚至違法地帶。

入境處指出，假結婚案件往往並非單一行為，而是牽涉中介人、介紹人甚至跨境組織，形成有系統的操作模式。中介通常會鎖定經濟條件較弱、急需金錢周轉的本地居民，尤其是年輕人、低收入人士或學生，承諾提供「快速、安全」的報酬，淡化法律風險，甚至聲稱只要配合文件與簡單面談就能蒙混過關。然而，實際上入境處會透過多方面調查，包括查核雙方交往歷史、居住狀況、經濟往來、通訊紀錄，甚至進行突擊家訪與分開問話，一旦發現供詞不一致或缺乏真實婚姻生活的證據，便會迅速展開刑事調查。

從法律層面來看，假結婚屬於嚴重罪行，相關人士可能觸犯串謀詐騙、作出虛假陳述等罪名。一經定罪，最高可被判處監禁，並留下永久刑事紀錄，對日後升學、就業、出入境都會造成長遠影響。對非本地人士而言，除刑責外，亦可能被即時拒絕居留申請、遣返原居地，甚至被列入黑名單，日後難以再次合法入境香港。

入境處強調，打擊假結婚是維護香港入境制度公平性與社會秩序的重要一環，未來將持續加強情報分析與跨部門合作，並透過宣傳教育提醒市民，切勿因一時的經濟困難或短期利益而鋌而走險。當局亦呼籲年輕人遇到財務問題時，應尋求合法的債務協助或社會支援，而非以身試法，否則不但無法真正解決問題，反而可能為人生留下難以挽回的法律與信用污點。

Hong Kong’s Immigration Department recently released figures showing that enforcement actions against so-called “sham marriages” were significantly intensified over the past year. A total of 531 suspected sham-marriage cases were investigated, leading to the arrest of as many as 710 people. These numbers indicate that the problem remains widespread and has developed into a covert yet relatively mature illegal chain. A “sham marriage” generally refers to a situation in which a Hong Kong resident and a non-local individual register a marriage without a genuine marital relationship, usually involving financial transactions or other benefits, with the aim of helping the non-local party obtain residency rights and circumvent the normal immigration approval process.

Among the disclosed cases, one in particular drew public attention. A female student in her early twenties, burdened by credit card debt, agreed to enter into a sham marriage with a non-local resident in exchange for a payment of around HKD 100,000. During the investigation, she admitted that the two had no emotional relationship and no intention of living together, and that the arrangement was purely transactional, designed to relieve her financial pressure while providing the other party with immigration advantages. Such cases highlight that sham marriages are not only an immigration control issue, but also reflect how some young people, facing financial stress, debt, or a lack of understanding of the legal consequences, may be drawn into legally risky or outright illegal activities.

The Immigration Department noted that sham-marriage cases are rarely isolated incidents. They often involve intermediaries, introducers, or even cross-border networks operating in an organized manner. These intermediaries typically target local residents in financial difficulty—particularly young people, low-income individuals, or students—by promising quick and easy cash rewards while downplaying legal risks. Some even claim that as long as documents are prepared and interviews are handled carefully, the authorities can be deceived. In reality, immigration officers conduct comprehensive investigations, including checks on the couple’s relationship history, living arrangements, financial interactions, and communication records. Surprise home visits and separate interviews are also common, and once inconsistencies or a lack of evidence of a genuine marital life are found, criminal investigations are swiftly initiated.

From a legal standpoint, sham marriages constitute serious criminal offenses. Those involved may be charged with conspiracy to defraud or making false statements. Upon conviction, offenders may face imprisonment and a permanent criminal record, which can have long-term consequences for education, employment, and future travel. For non-local participants, in addition to criminal liability, their residency applications may be rejected outright, they may be deported, and they could be blacklisted, making future legal entry into Hong Kong extremely difficult.

The Immigration Department emphasized that combating sham marriages is essential to maintaining the fairness of Hong Kong’s immigration system and overall social order. It pledged to continue strengthening intelligence analysis and cross-departmental cooperation, while also stepping up public education to warn residents not to take legal risks for short-term financial gain. Authorities urged young people facing financial difficulties to seek legitimate debt-relief assistance or social support, rather than resorting to illegal means, as such actions not only fail to solve the underlying problems but may leave lasting legal and credit consequences that are difficult to reverse.