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The Immigration Department today (October 16) arrested 23 illegal workers and six people suspected of employing them during a series of anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Champion" and "Powerplayer".
Operation Champion began at 8am and ended at 6pm today. Immigration Task Force officers raided 36 target locations in various districts including restaurants, factories and residential units under renovation. In the operation, 12 illegal workers and two employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised eight men and four women aged between 22 and 58. Among them, two were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit employment. Moreover, one woman were suspected to have been using and in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. One man and one woman aged 39 and 42 respectively were suspected to have employed the illegal workers and were also arrested for questioning.
Operation Powerplayer, which was jointly mounted by the Immigration Department, Police Force and Labour Department, began at 9.30am and ended at 6pm today. During the operation, enforcement officers raided 20 workplaces in New Territories North Region, including electronic refuse depots and residential units under renovation, and arrested 11 illegal workers. The illegal workers comprised eight men and three women aged between 23 and 48. Among them, four were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit employment. Three men and one woman, whose ages ranged from 24 to 49, 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 also warned that it is 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 appealed to employers not to employ illegal workers, warning that it was 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/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, October 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:25
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