Duo convicted of aiding Mainland music students to breach condition of stay
2001-1-15
A music director and his mother were convicted at Eastern Court today (Monday) of aiding and abetting Mainland music students in Hong Kong to contravene their condition of stay by arranging them to perform in musical concerts for rewards.
Wong Hae, 28, music director of Hong Kong Arts Performing Ensemble (Ensemble) and his mother Li Yuen-yung, 58, a part-time teacher of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (APA), were found guilty of 20 joint charges, while Wong himself was further con victed of one similar offence.
Magistrate Eddie Yip adjourned sentencing on February 7 this year, pending probation reports.
The court heard that Wong and Li had aided and abetted, counselled and procured Gao Si-jia, Han Ying and Chen Dong-xiao to contravene a condition of stay in Hong Kong as students of APA, by performing in musical concerts for rewards with the Ensemble, wit hout the permission of the Director of Immigration.
Wong himself had also committed a similar offence.
Gao, Han and Chen were Mainland students who came to Hong Kong on student entry permits issued by the Immigration Department to attend courses at the Department of Chinese Music of the School of Music of APA.
Under the student entry permits, they were prohibited from taking any paid or unpaid employment in Hong Kong.
Wong and Li had aided and abetted them to be employed as artists to perform Chinese music for a hotel and the then Provisional Urban Council.
Gao, Han and Chen were each given a reward of $300 to $400 per performance. They had earned a total of $26,300.
The offences took place between July 6, 1998 and May 13, 1999.
Wong and Li were each granted $5,000 cash bail. They were ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses, to reside in reported addresses, and to inform the ICAC of any change of address within 24 hours.
The ICAC investigated this case after receiving a corruption complaint. Though the original corruption allegation was found to be unsubstantiated, the duo were suspected to have breached the Immigration Ordinance.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Keith Kwok.
Wong Hae, 28, music director of Hong Kong Arts Performing Ensemble (Ensemble) and his mother Li Yuen-yung, 58, a part-time teacher of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (APA), were found guilty of 20 joint charges, while Wong himself was further con victed of one similar offence.
Magistrate Eddie Yip adjourned sentencing on February 7 this year, pending probation reports.
The court heard that Wong and Li had aided and abetted, counselled and procured Gao Si-jia, Han Ying and Chen Dong-xiao to contravene a condition of stay in Hong Kong as students of APA, by performing in musical concerts for rewards with the Ensemble, wit hout the permission of the Director of Immigration.
Wong himself had also committed a similar offence.
Gao, Han and Chen were Mainland students who came to Hong Kong on student entry permits issued by the Immigration Department to attend courses at the Department of Chinese Music of the School of Music of APA.
Under the student entry permits, they were prohibited from taking any paid or unpaid employment in Hong Kong.
Wong and Li had aided and abetted them to be employed as artists to perform Chinese music for a hotel and the then Provisional Urban Council.
Gao, Han and Chen were each given a reward of $300 to $400 per performance. They had earned a total of $26,300.
The offences took place between July 6, 1998 and May 13, 1999.
Wong and Li were each granted $5,000 cash bail. They were ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses, to reside in reported addresses, and to inform the ICAC of any change of address within 24 hours.
The ICAC investigated this case after receiving a corruption complaint. Though the original corruption allegation was found to be unsubstantiated, the duo were suspected to have breached the Immigration Ordinance.
The prosecution was today represented by Senior Government Counsel Alex Lee, assisted by ICAC officer Keith Kwok.