A Senior Immigration Assistant has been charged for the unauthorised use of arrival and departure stamps on the travel documents of several Mainlanders to facilitate their unlawful stay in Hong Kong.

Ngai Chi-keung, 37, will appear at Kowloon City Magistracy tomorrow to face seven counts of misconduct in public office, and one of possession of identity cards relating to others.

Ngai is alleged to have wilfully and intentionally culpably misconducted himself in the course of his public office between December 2004 and last April. He is alleged to have created false arrival and departure records on Mainlanders, thereby causing them to extend their stay in Hong Kong illegally.

Ngai is also alleged to have had in his possession, on April 29, two Hong Kong Identity Cards relating to others without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

Ngai, a Hong Kong shop-owner and a number of Mainlanders were arrested in April.