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| This woman appears to have been found working illegally in a restaurant |
A week-long operation conducted by the Immigration Department to crack down on illegal work that ended on Thursday, July 9, led to the arrest of 29 people/
Those arrested included 20 suspected illegal workers, comprising nine men and 11 women, aged 29 to 69. Three of the men were non-refoulement claimants holding recognizance forms that prohibit them from taking up work, paid or unpaid, while two women possessed forged HK identity cards.
Also arrested were three overstayers, two men and a woman, aged 40 to 44.
Six other people, two men and four women aged 39 to 53, who were suspected of employing the workers, were also detained for questioning. Immigration said an investigation into their operation is continuing, and further arrests are not being ruled out.
The arrests were carried out throughout the territory as part of Immigration operations codenamed “Twilight” and “Contribute.” Another operation was conducted jointly with the Hong Kong Police and was codenamed “Champion.”
Targeted during the operations were the usual hotspots like restaurants, warehouses and massage parlors.
Immigration
again warned that illegal work is a serious offence for which a jail term is
prescribed.
Offenders, including tourists who are prohibited from taking up any work while in Hong Kong, and foreign domestic workers who are not supposed to work outside of their employers’ residences, could be jailed a maximum of two years and fined up to HK$50,000.
Overstayers and recognizance paper holders and illegal immigrants who are prohibited from working, could be jailed for up to three years and fined HK$50,000.
Possessing a forged HK ID card is a more serious crime, for which the penalty is a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
In addition to the prescribed penalties, the Chief Executive may issue a deportation order against an immigrant, and prohibit him or her from returning to Hong Kong at any time afterwards, if the offence committed is punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years,.
Employers who knowingly hired illegal workers or did not take prescribed precautions could be sentenced upon conviction to a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.
To report illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
