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The Immigration Department yesterday (September 19) arrested six illegal workers and two people suspected to have employed them during a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation Twilight began at 9am and ended at 11.30pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided 21 target locations in various districts including restaurants, temporary stalls, elderly homes, premises under renovation or decoration and a dancing studio. In the operation, six illegal workers and two employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised two men and four women aged between 27 and 56. Moreover, one woman was suspected of using and being in possession of a suspected forged Hong Kong identity card.
Two women, aged 28 and 46, were suspected to have employed illegal workers.
"Visitors are not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the 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 said.
The spokesman also warned that it is 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 is an offence to employ people who are 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 a job seeker's identity card or, if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, his or 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 is a serious offence to employ someone who is not legally employable, and the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:46
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