Raids against illegal workers net 12

 

Immigration officers escort those arrested.

The latest anti-illegal worker operations mounted all over Hong Kong by the Immigration Department (ImmD) resulted in 12 persons being arrested.

Eight of those arrested were suspected illegal workers, three were suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor.

The arests came during a series of territory-wide operations mounted by ImmD codenamed "Twilight", and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand" on February 18 to 20.

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ImmD Task Force officers raided nine target locations including premises under renovation and restaurants.

They arrested eight workers, five of them men and three, aged 27 to 53. Among them, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.

Two men and one woman, aged 44 to 61, were arrested for employing the illegal workers. One man aged 63, was also charged with aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong.

PINDUTIN DITO

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, 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. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is 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. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment."

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The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offense to employ people who are not lawfully employable.

Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for such an employer has been increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offenses.

“The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence,” the spokesman said.

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