In an operation conducted by the Immigration Department in November 2017, three forged Hong Kong identity cards and four Philippine passports relating to other persons were seized at a grocery store run by the defendant.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges at the District Court. After the trial, he was convicted of one count of possession of forged identity cards and one count of possession of unlawfully obtained travel documents. He was sentenced to a total of 15 months' imprisonment by the District Court last Friday.

"It is a serious offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of a HK$100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment. It is also an offence to possess an unlawfully obtained travel document. Upon conviction, offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of HK$150,000 fine and up to 14 years' imprisonment," the Immigration Department spokeman said.