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The Immigration Department arrested 19 illegal workers and 11 people suspected to have employed them during a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight" in Hong Kong from August 30 to September 1.
Immigration Task Force Officers raided 28 target locations in various districts including restaurant, money exchange store, elderly home, logistic company, temporary stall and a residential unit under decoration. The illegal workers comprised five men and fourteen women aged between 21 and 50. Among them, three were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit employment. Moreover, two women and one man were found to have been using and in possession of a suspected forged Hong Kong Identity card.
Seven men and four women, whose ages ranged from 37 to 59, were suspected to have employed the illegal workers.
Among the three recognisance forms holders, two were arrested in a Chinese restaurant located in Tsuen Wan for working as a cleaner. They were each charged with one count of taking employment while being under a removal order. They all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to five months' imprisonment by Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today (September 2).
Of the 19 arrested, three Mainland illegal workers were arrested in restaurants located in Ngau Tau Kok and Ma On Shan for working as cleaners. They were each charged with two counts of breach of condition of stay and one count of using false instrument. They all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment by Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today.
"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. It is also an offence for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order to take any employment or to establish or join in any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for three years," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
The spokesman also warned that it was an offence in law to use or possess a forged identity card. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and imprisonment for 10 years.
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. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's identity card or, if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, his/her valid travel document. The maximum penalty is a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year. 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/Thursday, September 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:05
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