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Task Force officers of the Immigration Department yesterday (May 13) arrested 25 immigration offenders during a territory-wide illegal worker operation.
The operation began at 8.45am and ended at 10.30pm yesterday. During the operation, six restaurants, one stall in Tung Choi Street and one lodging place were raided, resulting in the interception of 17 illegal workers, one male and 16 female, aged from 24 to 35, and eight employers. The illegal workers comprised 13 foreign domestic helpers, three visitors and one illegal immigrant.
Among the 13 foreign domestic helpers, 12 were overstayers and three of them were holding recognisance forms, which prohibit employment.
The illegal immigrant was found to have used a forged Hong Kong identity card during the job interview. One of the recognisance form holders was found in possession of a forged identity card.
Eight of the arrested foreign domestic helpers were found living together in a lodging place in Prince Edward district. Of these eight, five were found to have taken up unapproved employment at three restaurants. Three were arrested inside the lodging place for breach of condition of stay and aiding and abetting the breach of condition of stay.
The eight arrested employers were the persons-in-charge of the restaurants concerned and arrested on suspicion of employing persons who were not lawfully employable.
The spokesman warned that it was an offence in law to use or possess a forged identity card. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and imprisonment for 10 years.
The spokesman further warned that 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 for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order to take any employment or to establish or join in any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for three years.
The spokesman 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 legally employable, and the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Ends/Friday, May 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:33
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