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The Immigration Department and Labour Department mounted a territory-wide joint enforcement operation yesterday (September 8) to combat illegal employment activities relating to the foot reflexology business and arrested 18 immigration offenders.
The operation, which began at 10.30am and ended at 7pm yesterday, resulted in the arrest of 12 illegal workers and six employers. During the operation, law enforcement officers visited 10 foot reflexology centres in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, and checked the proof of identity of 55 people. The illegal workers comprised 11 women and one man, aged between 25 and 47. Among them, eight illegal workers were overstaying in Hong Kong. Moreover, during a search conducted by Immigration Department Task Force members of an illegal worker, a suspected forged Hong Kong identity card was found in the concealed part of a bag. All the illegal workers were detained for further inquiries.
The six people suspected to have employed illegal workers were five women and one man. They were aged from 32 to 46.
"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," an Immigration Department spokesman warned.
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 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. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's identity card or, if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, his/her valid travel document. The maximum penalty is a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year. 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/Thursday, September 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:06
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