Student admits forging reference letter for PhD place at Education University

On Monday, Fanling Court heard that 31-year-old Li Zuer, who hails from mainland China, pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining services through deception. The student had commissioned a Shenzhen-based agent to forge a reference letter endorsing her academic achievements and falsely claimed that it had been submitted by former EdU teaching staff member Ho Wai-yip in March 2024.

Li had previously stated that she was enrolled in EdU’s doctor of education programme, but following her conviction, she has lost her place in the programme.

Ho Wai-yip had initially written a reference for Li, acknowledging her character but noting that she had room to improve her English proficiency. Senior Counsel Edwin Choy Wai-bond, representing Li, explained that her client had harboured "high hopes" of establishing a career in academia. After several unsuccessful attempts to secure doctoral programmes in Hong Kong, Li approached a Shenzhen agency to have the reference letter altered, claiming that she had demonstrated exceptional academic performance and remarkable dedication to her studies.

Choy emphasized that Li was genuinely remorseful and ashamed of her actions, and expressed concern that a conviction would make it unlikely for her to secure employment at any educational institution in Hong Kong or the mainland.

In mitigation, Li penned a letter expressing a hard lesson learned. Magistrate Kenneth Chan Ping-chau acknowledged the gravity of the offence, emphasizing that Li’s actions had unfairly deprived at least one other applicant for the doctoral programme of an opportunity. The magistrate ordered a probation officer’s report to determine whether Li would be fit to perform community service, though a custodial sentence remained a possibility. Sentencing was adjourned to September 14.