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The Immigration Department today (January 28) arrested 15 people in an anti-illegal worker operation in West Kowloon Region to combat illegal employment activities.
The operation started at 8.45am and ended at 4.30pm. The 15 people arrested are suspected immigration offenders, including 13 illegal workers and two local employers. During the operation, immigration officers raided one restaurant in Hung Hom and temporary stalls in Tung Choi street, Mong Kok.
Among the 13 arrested illegal workers, six were South Asian illegal immigrants, one was a South Asian visitor and six were mainland visitors. All seven south Asians arrested were holders of recognisance forms.
"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 to take up employment, whether paid or unpaid, or to establish or join in any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for three years," an Immigration spokesman said.
The spokesman also appealed to employers not to employ illegal workers, warning 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. 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 lawfully/legally employable, and the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Thursday, January 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:22
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