16 March 2016
A Vietnamese illegal immigrant was jailed by Sha Tin Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to imprisonment of 15 months today (March 16).
In an anti-illegal employment operation mounted on March 14, the Immigration Department arrested a 35-year-old Vietnamese male who was washing dishes and glasses in the kitchen of a restaurant. A copy of a Hong Kong identity card which bore his portrait was seized at the scene. During the investigation, the Vietnamese male admitted to have entered Hong Kong illegally in August last year and obtained a forged Hong Kong identity card for job seeking. He then presented the forged Hong Kong identity card in the job interview of the restaurant.
The male was charged by the Sha Tin Magistrates' Court today due to taking up employment after landed in Hong Kong unlawfully and remained in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration and use of forged Hong Kong identity card. He pledged guilty to both charges and he was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for each of the charges, which are to be run concurrently.
The spokesman warned that it is an offence for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order to take any employment or to establish or join in any business. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases. In addition, it is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment.