The Government has long been combating illegal employment. To further step up such efforts, the Security Bureau (SB) established in September 2025 the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment. Members of the Task Force include the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Immigration Department (ImmD), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Labour Department and the Transport Department. The SB convened the first meeting of the Task Force today (October 2).
      
     At the meeting, the Task Force discussed the current situation of illegal employment, and agreed to enhance interdepartmental co-ordination on various fronts, including formulating overall response strategies against illegal employment, enhancing intelligence collection and intelligence exchange with the Mainland, enforcing the laws rigorously, leveraging technology, and co-ordinating relevant publicity and education, so as to combat illegal employment under a multipronged approach.
      
     The Convenor of the Task Force and Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said, "It is a serious offence to engage in illegal employment. Illegal workers, employers, as well as aiders and abettors of illegal employment will be liable to prosecution in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance (Cap 115). The establishment of the Task Force demonstrates the Government's commitment and determination to combat illegal employment. The Task Force will combat illegal employment from various aspects, targeting individual key industries."
      
     "The Task Force was established in September 2025. In the same month, the ImmD launched the Dedicated Hotline for Reporting Illegal Workers 3861 5000. Since the launch of the Hotline two weeks ago, the ImmD has already received over 100 reports via telephone. We encourage members of the public to continue to report illegal employment-related activities," Mr Tang added.
      
     The Task Force will continue to closely monitor the situation of illegal employment and formulate overall response strategies in a timely manner. 

Ends/Thursday, October 2, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:00

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