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The Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police Force yesterday (October 17) jointly mounted an anti-illegal employment operation codenamed "Windsand" in Sheung Shui district.
During the operation, 11 Mainland visitors comprising eight men and three women aged from 23 to 58 were arrested for breaching their conditions of stay by being involved in suspected parallel goods trading at Jockey Club Road, Po Shek Wu Road, San Shing Avenue, San Wan Road, Tsun Fu Street, San Fat Street, San Hong Street, Ka Fu Close and Shek Wu Hui Jockey Club Playground in Sheung Shui. The goods included milk powder, diapers, foods and daily necessities.
Furthermore, in the course of the operation, a Hong Kong resident, aged 47, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting Mainland visitors in breaching their conditions of stay by taking up parallel trading activities.
Since September 2012, a number of "Windsand" operations have been conducted, during which a total of 988 Mainlanders and 12 Hong Kong residents were arrested for suspected involvement in parallel goods trading. Of these, 118 Mainlanders were prosecuted for breach of conditions of stay and five are under investigation, while the remaining 865 people were repatriated. Among those prosecuted, 108 out of 118 were sentenced to imprisonment for four weeks to two months. A court hearing is still pending for two persons, and charges were withdrawn for another eight people.
"Visitors are not allowed to take up 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. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. The Immigration Department will continue to take enforcement action with related law enforcement departments against the offences concerned," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
Ends/Friday, October 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:05
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