HONG KONG - The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Wednesday that 18 people have been arrested for using forged degrees to apply for Hong Kong's Top Talent Pass Scheme.

It was the first time that the department uncovered a criminal syndicate assisting mainland residents in submitting false qualifications for the scheme.

The criminal syndicate had been operating for around one and a half years, arranging at least 22 applications. According to preliminary estimates by the department, each application, including follow-up services, was charged up to HK$2.5 million ($318,471), involving a total of HK$55 million.

Among those arrested were five Hong Kong residents, aged 42 to 56, believed to be members of the criminal syndicate. The remaining 13 individuals, aged 27 to 47, were mainland residents.

Hui Chi-kin, an assistant principal immigration officer of the department, said that the criminal syndicate monitored and tracked posts on mainland social media platforms that shared information about Hong Kong. They then proactively sent private messages to individuals interested in relocating to the city and promoted a "one-stop service package" which included forging overseas university degrees, and providing fake employment certificates to assist with application submissions.

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Hui said that the department will strictly vet each endorsement and entry permit application, and step up random inspections.