Chinese Woman Sentenced to 4 Months for Using Fake Degree to Enroll in University of Hong Kong

According to local media reports, the woman, Wang Yihan, pleaded guilty today at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts to one count of "obtaining services by deception." The magistrate criticized her actions for depriving other applicants of opportunities and stated that a deterrent sentence was necessary. Reports indicate that the University of Hong Kong received the defendant's application for a Master of Engineering program on March 8, 2023. In her application, the defendant claimed to have obtained a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2022. HKU subsequently received her academic credentials. In April 2023, the defendant applied to the Hong Kong Immigration Department for an entry permit to study in Hong Kong, again claiming to have a UCLA degree. In July of the same year, the defendant was admitted to HKU, and classes began in August. In March 2024, HKU received a complaint alleging that the defendant used a fake degree to apply for admission. The university then inquired with UCLA, which confirmed that the defendant had never studied at or received any certificate from UCLA. HKU subsequently reported the matter to the police and revoked her degree. Reports indicate that after her arrest, the defendant admitted to only graduating from Henan University in China. In mid-2024, several Hong Kong universities successively experienced fake degree scandals. HKU, in particular, found 30 students who used fake degrees to apply to its Faculty of Business and Economics. The Hong Kong police intervened in the investigation, arresting two mainland Chinese women during the process. Since early 2025, several mainland Chinese individuals have been convicted and sentenced in Hong Kong for using fake degrees. In addition to universities, last year Hong Kong also saw multiple cases of mainland Chinese individuals applying for the "Top Talent Pass Scheme" to work and reside in Hong Kong using fake degrees, with some being sentenced as a result. The "Top Talent Pass Scheme" is a measure by the Hong Kong government to attract overseas talent to work, develop, and reside in Hong Kong, with applications opening at the end of 2022. This scheme is not limited by industry, and some conditions include graduating from one of the world's top 100 universities. In July last year, the Hong Kong Immigration Department busted a cross-border criminal syndicate that used forged documents to fraudulently obtain entry permits for the "Top Talent Pass Scheme." During the operation, 18 people were arrested, and 22 illegal entry permit applications were uncovered. According to the announcement, the criminal syndicate charged HK$2.5 million (NT$10 million) for each application. (Edited by Yang Sheng-ru) 1150409