GUANGZHOU: Guangdong police will strengthen cooperation with their Hong Kong and Macao counterparts in fighting illegal emigration to the two special administrative regions through fake marriages with local residents.

"Police in the three regions will soon establish a special coordination and investigation system to help fight the illegal practice," police officer Xiao Shengxian from Guangdong provincial bureau of public security, said yesterday.

Guangdong police will cooperate closely with their Hong Kong and Macao counterparts to stop this illegal cross-border activity that has been going on for sometime, Xiao said.

It has affected Guangdong province's normal exit and entry operations and social order, Xiao said.

Hong Kong residents too have been investigated for charging fees to mainlanders to obtain marriage certificates. The fees range from a few thousand yuan to more that 50,000 yuan ($6,500). The marriages usually take place in different Guangdong cities.

By going through these fake marriages, mainlanders hope to get the right of abode in Hong Kong.

"The police will also boost cooperation with the Guangdong provincial bureau of civil affairs, customs and exercise, and immigration departments in Hong Kong and Macao," Xiao said.

A special campaign focussing on fighting fake marriages will soon be launched in collaboration with the police forces and immigration departments of the two special administrative regions, Xiao said.

Fake marriages have been on the increase recently, he said.

In January, four cross-border fake marriage certificate offices were raided and three criminal gangs were arrested in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Twenty people were arrested, 15 from the mainland and five from Hong Kong.

Police in the Guangdong cities of Zhuhai, Yunfu, Shaoguan, Shanwei, and Jiangmen have also cracked down on the illegal practice in recent months.

(China Daily 05/25/2007 page5)