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A renovation work contractor who employed four Mainland visitors as workers has been jailed for five months.
The 50-year-old male defendant, So Chau-loi, appeared in Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (December 7) and was convicted of four counts of being the employer of a person not lawfully employable. He was sentenced to two months' jail on each charge. However, the second month of the second to fourth charges is to run consecutively with the first charge, making an effective total sentence of five months' jail.
Immigration investigators mounted an anti-illegal worker operation in May, 2005, and intercepted four Mainland visitors at a shop under renovation on Nathan Road. The Mainlanders were seen performing various duties including measuring work, conveying scrap materials, sweeping floors and installing lights. The defendant was also located at the scene.
So admitted being the contractor of the renovation work and was responsible for recruiting staff. He did not inspect the Mainlanders' travel documents before employing them.
In June, 2005, the Mainland visitors employed by the defendant were each sentenced to two months' jail for breach of condition of stay.
The Immigration Department again warned that it was an offence to employ people who were not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Visitors are not permitted to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the prior permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and two years' jail.
Ends/Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:45
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