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The Immigration Department yesterday (July 2) arrested 13 illegal workers and eight suspected employers during a territory-wide anti-illegal workers operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation "Twilight" began at 8am and ended at 8pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided 21 target locations including restaurants, premises under renovation, a residential flat, a warehouse, a nightclub, an office, a garbage collection point, wet market stalls and a second-hand trader for electrical appliances. The 13 illegal workers comprise five men and eight women aged between 24 and 54. Among them, two men were suspected of being in possession of and using a forged Hong Kong identity card. Four men and four women aged between 25 and 71 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 use or possess a forged Hong Kong 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/Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:55
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