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The Immigration Department today (September 5) arrested seven illegal workers and four suspected employers during a territory-wide anti-illegal workers operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation "Twilight" began at 7.30am and ended at 5pm today. Immigration Task Force officers raided seven target locations including restaurants, a foot reflexology centre and flats under renovation. The seven illegal workers comprise six men and one woman aged between 19 and 40. Three men and one woman aged between 38 and 54 were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
All the illegal workers and their employers were detained for investigation.
"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, September 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:13
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