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Six South Asian illegal workers holding immigration recognisance forms were jailed by Sha Tin Magistrates' Court yesterday (January 12).
The illegal workers, aged 21 to 42, were found taking employment at Pat Heung, Sham Shui Po and Central as odd job workers in November and December 2009.
Three of them were each charged with one count of taking employment while remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration after having landed in Hong Kong unlawfully. Two were each charged with one count of breach of condition of stay. The remaining one was charged with one count of taking employment while being under a deportation order. They all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 14 months.
"The Immigration Department will continue to strengthen law enforcement to combat unlawful employment now that the Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2009 is in effect. It is an offence for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or from establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for three years," an Immigration spokesman said.
The Immigration spokesman also warned, "Visitors are not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for two years."
The spokesman 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. To deter unlawful employment, the High Court laid down a sentencing guideline in 2004 reaffirming that it was a serious offence to employ someone who was not legally employable, and the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:52
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