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During a joint enforcement operation codenamed "Champion" mounted by the Immigration Department, Police Force and Labour Department in Hung Hom and Kowloon City Districts yesterday (March 30), nine illegal workers and four employers were arrested. Two people were also arrested in another anti-illegal worker operation on suspicion of holding forged Hong Kong Identity Cards.
Operation Champion began at 8am and ended at 8pm yesterday. Law enforcement officers raided 45 target locations including restaurants, retail shops, a renovation unit on the roof-top of a residential building and loading bays of industrial premises. In this operation, nine illegal workers and four employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised six men and three women aged between 19 and 51. Among them, four people were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit employment.
During another anti-illegal worker operation mounted by the Immigration Department Task Force, two female illegal workers, aged 22 and 56, were arrested. They were suspected to have been in possession of forged Hong Kong Identity Cards and to have taken unapproved employment.
All the illegal workers were detained for further enquiries.
"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," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
The spokesman also warned that it was an offence in law to use or possess a forged identity card. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and imprisonment for 10 years.
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 legally employable, and the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:50
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