Selling properties, insurance plans or investment products by tourists are all illegal in Hong Kong, warns the Philippine Consulate General.
The same goes for
rendering professional advice, whether paid or unpaid, unless granted
permission by the Immigration Department.
This was contained
in an advisory from last March which was reposted today on the Facebook page of
the PCG.
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| PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE |
“Tourists (who)
engage in any paid activity, solicit business opportunities (e.g. selling of
condominium units, investments, or insurance policies) or buying commercial
interest in any business) or practice their profession (e.g. issuing legal
advice or administering medical care) may be prosecuted under the Hong Kong
Immigration Ordinance for Breach of Condition of Stay,” said the PCG in its
advisory.
“Offenders shall
be liable to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and a maximum imprisonment for 2 years.”
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Since Hong Kong
reopened to tourists after the pandemic, there has been a noticeable effort by
agents for even high-end property developers in the Philippines to target
prospective buyers in Hong Kong, including migrant domestic workers.
Some investment or
insurance companies even designate MDWs to act as their direct-marketing
agents, in violation of their visa conditions.
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| PCG says tourists should not exit to Macau repeatedly as they could be barred from re-entering HK |
The warning comes
amid an intensified campaign by Immigration to stamp out illegal work. Weekly
raids are carried out by a multi-agency task force that focuses on violations
of the condition of stay given to tourists and other people allowed temporary stay
in Hong Kong.
In the past few
months the campaign has extended to tourists and even MDWs offering photography,
make-up, manicure or dental services for a fee. A number of arrests has been
made, and offenders have in most cases, been sentenced to prison terms.
