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| Most of the arrests involved illegal workers in restaurants, along with their employers |
The Immigration Department has made one of its biggest crackdowns on illegal work, particularly in industries known to be prone to the illicit practice, arresting a total of 123 persons in nearly a month.
Of those arrested, 58 have been prosecuted for violating the Immigration Ordinance, with 46 of the being sentenced to prison terms ranging from 54 days to 22 months.
From May 19 to June 23, officers conducted raids at 815 targeted locations across various districts in Hong Kong, resulting in the arrest of 89 illegal workers, 31 employers and three aiders and abettors.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
About 2/3 of the illegal workers arrested, or a total of 60 persons, were working in restaurants as dishwashers, kitchen workers, waiters, waitresses and food delivery riders.
Another 14 illegal workers were apprehended while engaged in renovation and cleaning work at various sites across the city.
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| A number were found to work illegally as renovation workers |
During its operation targeting the catering industry, Immigration said its investigators employed different strategies including undercover work at restaurants and hanging out at popular gathering spots for food delivery riders in various districts.
The arrested illegal workers, aged between 21 and 67, comprised 45 non-ethnic Chinese individuals, including 14 men and nine women holding recognizance papers that prohibit them from taking up work; and 44 Mainlanders.
Among them, 18 persons held and were suspected of using forged Hong Kong identity cards while three possessed identity cards belonging to other people.
The 34 people arrested and charged with employing or aiding and abetting the illegal workers were all Hong Kong residents.
Those prosecuted faced relevant charges, including breach of conditions of stay or using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card, or taking employment while being 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.
Immigration said it does not rule out the possibility of further arrests or prosecutions.
Anyone found doing illegal work faces a maximum fine of $50,000 and prison terms of two or three years. Those found to have used forged HK identity cards or those belonging to another person could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $100,000.
Employers of illegal workers could be fined up to $500,000 and jailed for 10 years.
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| Items seized from the raids conducted for nearly a month |
Immigration
said it is committed to combatting illegal employment by illegal immigrants,
visitors, foreign domestic helper and imported workers bound by specific
employment conditions in order to protect the local labour market.
Anyone who notices ongoing illegal activities may contact Immigration’s dedicated hotline, (2824 1551), email (anti_crime@immd.gov.hk) and online reporting platform (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/online-services/) to report illegal employment activities.
