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The Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police Force yesterday (June 3) jointly mounted an anti-illegal employment operation codenamed "Windsand" in Sheung Shui district. During the operation, enforcement officers raided targeted locations at Shek Wu Hui and Ka Fu Close and arrested nine Mainland visitors comprising two men and seven women aged 22 to 55 for breaching their conditions of stay by being involved in suspected parallel goods trading. The goods included milk powder, red wine, foods and daily necessities.
Since September 2012, a number of "Windsand" operations have been conducted, during which a total of 1 267 Mainlanders and 14 Hong Kong residents were arrested for suspected involvement in parallel goods trading. Of these, 198 Mainlanders were prosecuted for breach of conditions of stay and three are under investigation, while the remaining 1,066 people were repatriated. Among those prosecuted, 188 out of 198 were sentenced to imprisonment for four weeks to three months, two are still pending court hearing, and charges were withdrawn for another eight people.
"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.
Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:39
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