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The Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police Force jointly mounted a series of anti-illegal employment operations codenamed "Windsand" on November 11 and 12 in the New Territories North District.
During the operations, 17 Mainland visitors comprising 11 men and six women aged from 25 to 61 were arrested for breaching their conditions of stay by being involved in suspected parallel goods trading at Lok Ma Chau Road in Lok Ma Chau and Ka Fu Close, San Wan Road and Man Shang Street in Sheung Shui. The goods included milk powder, foods, red wine, nutritional supplements, clothes and cosmetics.
Since September 2012, a number of "Windsand" operations have been conducted, during which a total of 1 023 Mainlanders and 12 Hong Kong residents were arrested for suspected involvement in parallel goods trading. Of these, 127 Mainlanders were prosecuted for breach of conditions of stay and five are under investigation, while the remaining 891 people were repatriated. Among those prosecuted, 119 out of 127 were sentenced to imprisonment for four weeks to two months, and charges were withdrawn for another eight people.
"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 face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties. The Immigration Department will continue to take enforcement action with related law enforcement departments against the offences concerned," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:26
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