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Fifteen immigration offenders arrested
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     The Immigration Department today (June 13) arrested 11 illegal workers and four suspected employers during a territory-wide anti-illegal workers operation codenamed "Twilight".

     During the operation, which started at 9.30am,  Immigration Task Force officers raided 10 target locations including a food court, premises under renovation, a retail shop, a second-hand trader for electrical appliances and a wet market stall. The 11 illegal workers comprise six men and five women aged between 27 and 75. One man and three women aged between 30 and 45 were suspected of employing the illegal workers.

     All the arrestees were detained for enquiries. The operation is still in progress.

     "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 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/Thursday, June 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:26

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