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"Immigration Task Force officers today conducted anti-illegal workers operations at North Point district and arrested 13 mainlanders who were suspected to have breached their conditions of stay," a spokesman for the Immigration Department said today (August 25).

Acting on information, 16 Immigration Task Force officers conducted surveillance in the district at 9:45a.m. and found some Mainland visitors selling waste materials to the waste-recycling merchandisers situated in the area of Yuet Yuen Street and Marble Road. The operation stood down at noon and 8 Mainland visitors, comprising 2 men and 6 women, aged between 23 and 52 were arrested. All of them came from Jiangsu and were being detained for further inquiry.

Besides, Immigration Department conducted a joint operation with the Police of the North Point Division to combat Mainland visitors suspected of engaging in prostitution. The operation commenced at 10:00a.m. and stood down in the evening. Five female Mainland visitors from the Fujian and Hubei provinces, aged between 28 and 37 were arrested. They were being detained for further inquiry.

"Under the laws of Hong Kong, visitors are not allowed to take up employment, whether paid or unpaid, without prior permission from the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years," the spokesman said.

The spokesman also warned that it is an offence to employ someone who is not lawfully employable. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.

"The Immigration Department will continue its efforts to combat immigration offenders and prosecute employers who hire illegal workers," the spokesman stressed.

End/Monday, August 25, 2003

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