Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki also stressed on Friday that the government would thoroughly investigate all applications submitted by suspicious agencies assisting students with enrolment.
Speaking to the press, Chan stressed that furnishing false information to the government was a serious crime, and he warned applicants to avoid taking risks as offenders would face serious consequences.
“Once we have sufficient evidence to prosecute and they have been found guilty afterwards, their academic qualifications will be revoked,” he said. “Due to the record of conviction, it could be very difficult for them to come to Hong Kong again, even for travelling.”
Applicants seeking help from agents to enrol in university programmes should not have any reason for failing to know whether the credentials they were listing were genuine or not, he added.