Three illegal workers comprising a Vietnamese and two Indians were jailed at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on June 23.
 
     Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators received referrals from the Hong Kong Police Force to further investigate two illegal employment cases in March and May respectively. Enforcement officers arrested a 43-year-old male Vietnamese worker conveying goods in a frozen food warehouse in Lok Ma Chau and a 24-year-old male Indian worker removing waste at a factory in Tin Shui Wai. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by the ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that they were non-refoulement claimants. Three employers suspected of employing the illegal workers were arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
 
     Futhermore, during a joint operation conducted by the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Labour Department codenamed "Champion" on March 28, enforcement officers raided a stall in Mong Kok. A male Indian illegal worker, aged 31, was arrested. When intercepted, he was found setting up the stall. Upon identity checking, he produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by the ImmD, which prohibits him from taking employment. Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.
 
     The three illegal workers were charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts on June 23 with taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. They were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 15 months to 23 months.

     The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases.
 
     The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening on vulnerable persons including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, etc, who are arrested during any operations, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on the TIP victims to report the crimes to the relevant departments.

Ends/Monday, June 26, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:32

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