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| Immigration officers lead one of the suspected illegal workers to their vehicle |
Immigration officers arrested 19 people in three anti-illegal
worker operations that involved raiding 157 target locations all over Hong Kong
over five days on Aug. 15 to 18.
Those arrested included 10 suspected illegal workers, six
suspected employers, one suspected aider and abettor, one overstayer and one
illegal immigrant.
Immigration Department said its operations codenamed
"Lightshadow" and "Twilight" resulted in the arrest of five
suspected illegal workers and three suspected employers.
Those arrested for illegally working comprised two men and
three women, aged 25 to 56. One of them was a holder of a recognisance form,
which prohibits him from taking any employment, and suspected of using and
being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card of another person.
The three suspected as employers were men aged 49 to 66.
The eight were arrested during raids on 65 target locations,
including a fish stall, food and beverage areas, premises under renovation, a
recycling yard, restaurants, residential buildings, retail shops, a warehouse
and shopping malls.
In operation "Champion" where Immigrationm
officers teamed up with police officers, five were arrested for illegal work,
three for employing them, one was suspected aider and abettor, one overstayer
and one illegal immigrant.
Of the five suspected illegal workers, three were men and
two women, aged 33 to 68. Two of these men and one woman were holders of a
recognisance form, which prohibit them from taking any employment.
Those arrested for employing them were three men aged 29 to
65, while one man aged 49 was arrested for aiding and abetting persons who
breached their conditions of stay in Hong Kong.The female overstayer was aged
66, and the male illegal immigrant was 37.
The arrests were made in raids on 92 target locations in
Central district and New Territories North Region, including commercial buildings,
garages, premises under renovation, restaurants and warehouses.
Visitors and those who violate the conditions of their stay by
working without the permission of the Director of Immigration face prosecution in
which the maximum penalties are $50,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
The spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of
the Immigration Ordinance, a
“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,” Immigration said.
Offenders face up to $50,000 fine and three years' imprisonment.
Those using and in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity
card or one that belongs to another person can face a maximum fine of $100,000
and up to 10 years' imprisonment."
“Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and
penalties," Immigration said,
Those who employ people who are not lawfully employable also
face a fine of up to $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment.
“The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the
company concerned may also bear criminal liability,” Immigration added.
It advised them to take the necessary steps to ensure a
person is lawfully employable befoe hiring them. “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,” it
said. “The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings.”
Offenders face a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment
for up to one year.
