*************************************
The Immigration Department yesterday (April 22) arrested six illegal workers, and five persons suspected to have employed them, during a territory-wide anti-illegal workers operation codenamed "Twilight".
Operation Twilight began at 9am and ended at 6.45pm yesterday. Immigration Task Force officers raided eight target locations including restaurants, premises under renovation, retail shops and a refuse collection point. The six illegal workers comprised two men and four women aged between 30 and 50. Among them, two women were suspected of using forged Hong Kong identity cards. One man and four women, whose ages ranged from 43 to 51, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
"Visitors are not allowed to take 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 warned that it is an offence to possess or use 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 the 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, April 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:42
NNNN
