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The Immigration Department yesterday (March 12) arrested 11 illegal workers and eight people suspected of employing them during a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation Twilight began at 6.30am and ended at 8.35pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided 23 target locations in various districts including restaurants, premises under renovation, temporary stalls, retail stores, a salon and a garage. During the operation, 11 illegal workers and eight employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised three men and eight women aged from 21 to 53. Among them, one man and two women were suspected of using and being in possession of suspected forged Hong Kong identity cards. Seven men and one woman, aged from 30 to 66, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
All the illegal workers were detained for questioning.
"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," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
The spokesman also warned that it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment.
The spokesman also appealed to employers not to employ illegal workers, warning that it is an offence to employ people who are 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 a job seeker's identity card or, if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, his or her valid travel document. The maximum penalty for failing to do so is a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year. To deter unlawful employment, the High Court laid down sentencing guidelines in 2004 reaffirming that it is a serious offence to employ someone who is not legally employable, and stating that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:11
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