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The Immigration Department has caught 15 immigration offenders in a territory-wide anti-illegal-worker operation codenamed "Twilight".
A total of 423 proof of identity checks were made. Three local employers and 12 suspected illegal workers were apprehended in the two-day operation.
The operation began at 1pm yesterday (October 4) and ended at 5.30pm today (October 5). Immigration investigators raided 124 targeted locations, including offices in commercial buildings, factories, restaurants and the Western Wholesale Food Market.
As a result, 12 people - 10 men and two women, aged 23 to 45 - were arrested for suspected breach of conditions of stay. Those arrested were six male Bangladeshi visitors, one male Indian visitor, one male Pakistani visitor, one female Indonesian domestic helper working in Hong Kong and three Mainland visitors.
Three Hong Kong residents - two men and a woman, aged 35 to 56 - were also arrested on suspicion of being employers of illegal workers or aiding and abetting others to breach their conditions of stay.
"Visitors are not allowed to take up employment, 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 imprisonment for two years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalty," the department spokesman warned.
"It is also an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years," the spokesman added.
Ends/Thursday, October 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:23
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