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The Immigration Department yesterday (March 17) arrested five illegal workers and three people suspected to have employed them during a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight". Another 12 people were arrested in an inter-departmental operation.
Operation Twilight began at 11am and ended at 8.30pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided 18 target locations in various districts, including restaurants,¡@salons, retail shops, a commercial unit under decoration, a vegetable wholesale company, a trading company and a foot reflexology centre. In this operation, five illegal workers and three employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised two men and three women aged between 19 and 44. Among them, one woman was the holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits employment.
During another joint Immigration/ Labour operation, which began at 9am and ended at 5pm yesterday, law enforcement officers raided nine target locations in the New Territories including restaurants, grocery stalls and retailers. In this operation, five illegal workers and seven employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised five women aged between 21 and 33. All arrestees suspected of breach of condition of stay were detained for further inquiries.
"Visitors are not allowed to take up employment, 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 imprisonment for two years. 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," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
The spokesman also warned that it was 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.
Ends/Thursday, March 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:32
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