Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment convenes third meeting (with photos)

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     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, chaired the third meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (September 30). At the meeting, the Task Force discussed measures to combat illegal employment in the 2026 Policy Address, followed up on the latest situation of illegal employment, and agreed to co-opt the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), the Development Bureau (DEVB), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Tourism Commission (TC) as members of the Task Force, with a view to combating illegal employment in key industries.

     The Convenor of the Task Force, Mr Tang, said, "The Chief Executive announced in the 2026 Policy Address an array of measures to step up efforts to combat illegal employment on all fronts. In particular, after reviewing the latest trends of illegal employment, the Task Force has designated catering and cleaning, renovation and construction, retail, food delivery, transport and logistics as well as tourism as key industries, and co-opted relevant bureaux and departments as members of the Task Force in order to strengthen the functions of the Task Force and curb illegal employment in these key industries in a targeted manner. In addition, we will invite relevant sectors to nominate representatives as 'Anti-Illegal Employment Ambassadors', who will join hands with the Government in combating illegal employment. They will assist in intelligence collection to widen our intelligence network and step up publicity and education in relevant sectors so as to raise awareness of not employing illegal workers."

     At the same time, under the co-ordination of the Task Force, relevant departments will actively take forward other measures in the 2026 Policy Address, including leveraging technology to enhance the effectiveness of cyber patrol and intelligence collection; reviewing the penalty for illegal employment and striving for sentences with a greater deterrent effect to be handed down by courts; and enhancing interdepartmental joint operations, with a view to stepping up efforts in combating illegal employment on all fronts.

     Established by the Security Bureau in September 2025, the Task Force aims to enhance interdepartmental co-ordination to combat illegal employment under a multipronged approach. After the addition of new members, members of the Task Force include the CEDB, the DEVB, the Education Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the FEHD, the HAD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Labour Department, the TC and the Transport Department.

Ends/Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:55

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The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (second right), chaired the third meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (September 30) to discuss measures to combat illegal employment in the 2026 Policy Address, follow up on the latest situation of illegal employment, and agree on the co-option of additional members to the Task Force, with a view to combating illegal employment in key industries.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung (centre), chaired the third meeting of the Inter-departmental Task Force against Illegal Employment today (September 30) to discuss measures to combat illegal employment in the 2026 Policy Address, follow up on the latest situation of illegal employment, and agree on the co-option of additional members to the Task Force, with a view to combating illegal employment in key industries.