***************************************
The Immigration Department mounted territory-wide enforcement operations codenamed "Twilight" and "Windsand" yesterday (May 20) to combat illegal employment activities. Operation "Windsand" was conducted jointly with the Police Force. A total of 13 illegal workers were arrested.
During operation "Twilight", immigration officers raided six target locations including an office, garbage collection points and restaurants, arresting three illegal workers. The three illegal workers comprised one man and two women aged between 28 and 29.
During operation "Windsand", 10 Mainland visitors comprising five men and five women aged between 44 and 55 were arrested for breaching their conditions of stay by being involved in suspected parallel goods trading at Ka Fu Close, San Wan Road and Po Shek Wu Road in Sheung Shui. The goods involved milk powder, diapers, health food products and foods.
Since September 2012, a number of "Windsand" operations have been conducted, during which a total of 745 Mainlanders and 10 Hong Kong residents were arrested for suspected involvement in parallel goods trading. Of these, 102 Mainlanders were prosecuted for breach of conditions of stay, while the remaining 643 people were repatriated. Among those prosecuted, 94 out of 102 were sentenced to imprisonment for four weeks to two months. Charges were withdrawn for another eight people.
"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.
Ends/Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:25
NNNN
