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A joint enforcement operation codenamed "Powerplayer" was mounted by the Immigration Department, the Police Force and the Labour Department on July 30 in New Territories North Region to combat illegal employment activities. Sixteen illegal workers and three people suspected of employing them were arrested.
The operation began at 8.30am and ended at 6.45pm. During the operation, enforcement officers raided more that 50 targeted workplaces including a construction site, used electrical appliances recycling plants, auto spare parts recycling plants, warehouses and electronic spare parts recycling depots in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sheung Shui, Ta Kwu Ling, Pat Heung, Lok Ma Chau and Tai Po. After checking more than the identity documents of 600 people, 16 illegal workers were arrested, comprising 15 men and one woman aged 20 to 48. Among them, five were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit employment. Three men, whose ages ranged from 34 to 64, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
All the illegal workers were detained for questioning.
"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 warned that 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 maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
The spokesman 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/Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:26
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