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Joint operations by the Immigration Department and Police today (December 10) to combat illegal employment resulted in the arrest of 22 people, including 17 illegal workers and five employers.
In the operation named "Operation Champion", immigration and police officers raided 42 workplaces in Tuen Mun district, including warehouses, laundry and food factories, and checked 175 employees' proof of identity .
Among the 17 arrested illegal workers, 12 were Mainland visitors, three were Filipino visitors and two were Pakistani visitors.
On December 4, the Immigration Department had also apprehended 109 suspected immigration offenders in a series of operations targeting illegal workers.
"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. It is also an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years," an Immigration spokesman said.
"The Immigration Department will continue its efforts to combat immigration offenders and prosecute employers who hire illegal workers," the spokesman stressed.
Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:40
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