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The Immigration Department yesterday (March 1) arrested eight illegal workers and five people suspected of employing them during a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation Twilight began at 8am and ended at 9.45pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided 26 target locations in various districts including restaurants, a retail stall, premises under renovation or decoration and a refuse collection point. During the operation, eight illegal workers and five employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised four men and four women aged from 26 to 61. Among them, two women were suspected of using and being in possession of a suspected forged Hong Kong Identity card. Three men and two women, whose ages ranged from 35 to 56, were suspected of employing the 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 face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
The spokesman also warned that it was an offence to use or possess a forged identity card. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment.
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 the 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 for failing to do so is a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year. To deter unlawful employment, the High Court laid down sentencing guidelines in 2004 reaffirming that it is a serious offence to employ someone who is not legally employable, and stating that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Friday, March 2, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:51
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