Hong Kong police confirmed on Thursday that two women, aged 24 and 34, were arrested for their alleged involvement in a mass admission fraud related to the University of Hong Kong’s Business School.

Cai Hongbin, dean of HKU Business School, revealed in a recent interview with Beijing-based media Caixin that over 30 master’s degree students were found to have submitted forged academic qualifications to gain admission to the school, and that the number might increase to as many as 100.

READ MORE: Probe: Over 30 students caught falsifying qualifications for HKU admission

Police said the 24-year-old woman was arrested on June 22 and charged with “using a false instrument” under the Crimes Ordinance. Her case has been adjourned to Aug 20. The other woman, arrested on Wednesday, is currently being detained by the police.

Knowingly using a false document with intent to deceive is a crime punishable with a prison sentence of up to 14 years upon conviction.

The university launched a probe in May, requiring all current master’s students to resubmit their undergraduate credentials, transcripts, and other supporting materials. The move was in response to reports of claims by some online agencies that they can guarantee students admission to the highly selective program for a fee of up to 500,000 yuan ($68,800).

These agencies allegedly forged transcripts and certificates from institutions such as New York University, complete with authentic-looking envelopes and seals.

Cai said that all students found to have falsified their credentials are Chinese. Most of the fake documents were related to foreign universities, while the academic records of students from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland universities were verified as authentic.

Some students and parents were found to have been complicit in the admissions frauds, while others may have been unaware that their qualifications had been falsified, he said.

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Recognizing the gravity of the situation, HKU is taking a resolute stance with a comprehensive investigation, rather than quietly dismissing individual cases, Cai said.

He emphasized that the goal is to crack down on illegal intermediaries, hold them accountable, and deter potential clients from using such services.

He said that HKU is strengthening its admissions procedures, including requiring certifications from third-party platforms and conducting interviews with some applicants.

Additionally, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has pledged to work with the city’s public universities to review admissions practices and establish clear guidelines to uphold academic integrity.

HKU Business School topped the University of Texas’ Dallas Business School Research Rankings for Asia for the second consecutive year in 2022, and ranked 18th in the world. It attracts over 20,000 postgraduate program applicants annually.