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The Immigration Department yesterday (January 16) conducted a series of anti-illegal worker operations with the Police and the Labour Department codenamed "Champion" and "Powerplayer", arresting 24 illegal workers and two people suspected of employing them.
Operation Champion, which was mounted in Western District and Tsim Sha Tsui, began at 10am and ended at 6pm yesterday. Enforcement officers raided eight target locations including restaurants, a foot reflexology centre and residential units under renovation. During the operation four illegal workers, comprising women aged between 29 and 49, were arrested. One man, aged 47, who was suspected to have employed the illegal workers, was also arrested for enquiries.
Another joint enforcement operation, Powerplayer, which was mounted in New Territories North, began at 8.15am and ended at 6pm yesterday. During the operation, enforcement officers raided 30 workplaces including recycling plants, warehouses and a restaurant, and arrested 20 illegal workers. The illegal workers comprised 13 men and seven women aged between 25 and 51. Among them, seven were holders of recognisance forms. One man, aged 26, was 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 also 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 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 was a serious offence to employ someone who was not legally employable, and stating that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Thursday, January 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:07
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