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The Immigration Department yesterday (May 19) arrested six illegal workers and four suspected employers during a territory-wide anti-illegal workers operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation "Twilight" began at 9am and ended at 7pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided 10 target locations including a vehicle disassembly site, restaurants, residential flats under renovation and a wine shop. During the operation, six illegal workers were arrested, comprising three men and three women, aged 36 to 51. Three men and one woman, aged 42 to 53, 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 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/Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:55
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