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An anti-illegal worker operation in the New Territories to combat illegal employment activities resulted in 23 arrests today (May 17). The operation involved the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Police and the Labour Department.
The operation, which began at 8am today and ended at 5.30pm, resulted in the arrest of 21 illegal workers and two employers. During the operation, immigration, police and labour officers raided 10 workplaces in Pat Heung, Lok Ma Chau and Tin Shui Wai, including electronic refuse depots, computer recycling depots, vehicle dismantling depots and graveyards and checked 51 persons' proof of identity.
Among the 21 arrested workers, 10 were non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants, nine were Mainland visitors and two were illegal immigrants from the Mainland. All the non-ethnic Chinese arrestees were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit employment.
"The Immigration Department will continue to strengthen law enforcement to combat unlawful employment now that the amended ordinance 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.
"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," 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/Monday, May 17, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:44
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