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A Hong Kong resident was today (June 27) sentenced to jail by Sha Tin Magistrates' Court for employing four Mainland visitors to work in her massage centre.
The 47-year-old female defendant, Hung Wai-chau, pleaded guilty to four counts of being the employer of a person not lawfully employable and was jailed for four months on each charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
On June 21, 2006, Immigration Task Force investigators raided a massage centre in Tai Po and found four female Mainland visitors working as masseuses and providing massage services to customers. The defendant was the owner of the massage centre and was responsible for recruiting staff. She admitted being aware of the four Mainlanders' visitor status in Hong Kong, but she still employed them to work as masseuses.
The four Mainland visitors were each charged with one count of breach of condition of stay. They were each sentenced to six weeks' jail after pleading guilty on June 23.
The Immigration Department warned that it was an offence to employ people who were not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Visitors are not permitted to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the prior permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and two years' jail.
Ends/Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:26
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