*************************************************
The Immigration Department, together with the Hong Kong Police, mounted anti-illegal worker operations today (January 12) in the West Kowloon Region, Kwun Tong District, Tsuen Wan District and East District of Hong Kong Island to combat illegal employment activities.
The operation started at 3am and ended at 6pm today. It resulted in the arrest of 44 people who are suspected immigration offenders, including 12 illegal workers and one local employer. During the operation, immigration and police officers raided 54 targeted places, including hawker permitted areas, part-time pedestrian streets, targeted restaurants, buildings and streets, and checked 91 persons¡¦ proof of identity.
Among the 12 arrested illegal workers, six were non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants, five were non-ethnic Chinese visitors and one was a Mainland visitor. Of the non-ethnic Chinese arrestees, 10 were holders of recognizance forms.
"The Immigration Department will continue to strengthen law enforcement to combat unlawful employment now that the Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2009 is in effect. It is an offence for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order to take up employment, whether paid or unpaid, or to establish or join in any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for three years," an Immigration spokesman said.
The spokesman also appealed to employers not to employ illegal workers, warning 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. To deter unlawful employment, the High Court laid down a sentencing guideline in 2004 reaffirming that it was a serious offence to employ someone who was not lawfully/legally employable, and the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:11
NNNN
