Bengaluru: “You give us Rs 1 lakh and we will get you a free visa to Hong Kong! And hey! We'll ensure you have a job, shelter and supply of free food. So what’s stopping you?” If this is not lucrative enough, then there's nothing more attractive to hundreds of Indians, who are falling for this trap and are queuing up at the Hong Kong airport.
According to The Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, there are at least 2,000 Indians stationed at the political asylums in Hong Kong enjoying freebies. And what do they get? Free food, free shelter and $2,000 to spend on themselves for two years!
Explaining the widespread racket, Raj Sital, chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, said, “It’s a big network of frauds starting from remote corners in India to some not so recognised NGOs in Hong Kong. They take the money, promise moon to people who are often not aware about the job or what they’re expected to do. While they like to believe they’re going to be earning in a foreign country, it’s a different picture here.”
Sital said that such immigrants often claim their lives are under threat and could get killed if they go back to their home countries. Since it’s free visa on arrival for Indians in Hong Kong, fraudsters who get them here often leave them at the airport and flee, he added.
The Hong Kong government hears cases of those who end up at the airport and seek shelter. Eventually, these illegal immigrants are registered at political asylums where they can stay up to two years without punishment, if found guilty, or any legal proceedings taking course. “Many decide to cool their heels for as long as they can, while some save up to Rs 18-20 lakh and return home,” he added.
Although this easy way of making money is attracting people, mostly from Kerala, it’s jeopardizing the free visa on arrival for many tourists from India who wish to see the country, said M. Arunachalam, former chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong.
“There are about 11,000 illegal immigrants in the asylum including 2,000 from India. The ratio of tourists to illegal immigrants is abysmal. However, the Hong Kong government is concerned that such fraudulent activities may increase, bringing more illegal immigrants to the country. We are consistently urging the government not to burden the innocent tourists,” he said.
