Immigration renews warning against illegal work
The Immigration Department has renewed its warning against working illegaly and employing people without proper work permits.
The department issued the warning after the arrest of 13 suspected illegal workers and four suspected employers during raids on 37 target locations all over Hong Kong.
The raids were mounted under its anti-illegal worker operation codenamed “Twilight” and joint operations with Hong Kong Police codenamed “Champion” and “Windsand” for four days, on March 6-9.
In its Twilight operation, Immigration Task Force officers raided 23 locations including an industrial building, premises under renovation, residential buildings, restaurants, a retail store and a wet market.
Eight suspected illegal workers and four suspected employers were arrested.
The arrested workers comprised two men and six women, aged 28 to 53. Among them, one woman was a holder of recognizance form, which prohibits her from taking any employment, and one woman was had a forged Hong Kong identity card.
Also arrested were three men and one woman, aged 35 to 64, for employing the workers.
In operation Champion, enforcement officers raided 13 target locations in Central district, including a construction site and restaurants, and arrested three women, aged 24 to 40, for working illegally.
During operation Windsand, two Mainland visitors — a man aged 23 and a woman, 44 — were arrested for breaching their conditions of stay by being involved in suspect parallel goods trading at San Wan Road and Ka Fu Close in Sheung Shui district. The goods included skincare products, cosmetics products, health products and food.
Those arrested for illegal work will be charged in court and, if convicted, could face punishments such as imprisonment for up to three years and fine of up to $50,000.
Those convicted of for employing illegal workers can face imprisonment of up to one year and fine of up to $500,000.
Source: The SUN HK : Immigration renews warning against illegal work (sunwebhk.com)