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The Immigration Department today (December 1) carried out an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed ˇ§Twilightˇ¨ that resulted in the arrest of 12 people, including ten suspected illegal workers and two local employers.
The three-phase operation began at 7.30am this morning and ended at 6.30pm tonight.
Phase one was a joint operation between the Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police Force to combat illegal employment activities in the northern region of the New Territories. Six non-ethnic Chinese were apprehended for suspected working illegally in a recycling depot. One local employer was also apprehended.
Phase two of the operation was conducted by Immigration officers. Two non-ethnic Chinese suspected illegal workers were apprehended for being scaffolding workers setting up roadside stalls in Temple Street, Jordan.
In the third phase, Immigration officers raided a number of targeted locations in Shek Kip Mei, Lai Chi Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tuen Mun and Wan Chai districts including restaurants, factories, warehouses and shops.
In the operation, 12 people, including ten suspected illegal workers and two local employers, were arrested. Among the ten arrested suspected illegal workers, two were non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants, six were non-ethnic Chinese visitors, one was a foreign domestic helper and one was a Mainland visitor. One of the arrestees was a holder of recognizance form.
ˇ§It is an offence for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order to take any employment or to establish or join in any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for three years,ˇ¨ an Immigration Department spokesman said.
ˇ§It is also an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. The Immigration Department will continue its efforts to combat immigration offenders and prosecute employers who hire illegal workers,ˇ¨ the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:26
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