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The Immigration Department mounted territory-wide enforcement operations codenamed "Twilight" and "Champion" yesterday (May 2) to combat illegal employment activities. Operation Champion was conducted jointly with the Police Force. A total of 11 illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested.
During the operations, immigration and police officers raided 34 target locations including restaurants, a warehouse, a retail shop, premises under renovation, residential flats and temporary hawker stalls, arresting 11 illegal workers comprising five men and six women aged between 28 and 70. Among them, one man was suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. One man and two women aged from 33 to 49 were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
"Visitors are not allowed to take 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 to possess or use 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, May 3, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:26
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