17 May 2016
The Immigration Department mounted a series of territory-wide enforcement operations on May 16, including operations codenamed "Twilight" and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Windsand", to combat illegal employment activities. A total of nine illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested.
During operation "Twilight", Immigration Task Force officers raided 14 target locations including restaurants, an office, a hair salon, a retail store and a residential flat under renovation. Three illegal workers comprising one man and two women aged 30 to 34 were arrested. They were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. Among them, the man was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. One man aged 51 was suspected of employing the illegal workers.
During operation "Windsand", six Mainland visitors comprising two men and four women aged 28 to 60 were arrested for breaching their conditions of stay by being involved in suspected parallel goods trading at Po Wan Road and Ka Fu Close in Sheung Shui. The goods included red wine, milk powder, foods, skincare products and electronic products.
Since September 2012, a number of "Windsand" operations have been conducted, during which a total of 2,831 Mainlanders and 17 Hong Kong residents were arrested for suspected involvement in parallel goods trading. Of these, 228 Mainlanders were prosecuted for breach of conditions of stay, while the remaining 2,603 people were repatriated. Among those prosecuted, 218 were sentenced to imprisonment for between four weeks and three months, while charges were withdrawn for the other 10 people.
"Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment," an Immigration Department spokesman said.
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.
The spokesman also warned that 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.
The spokesman appealed to employers not to employ illegal workers, warning that it is an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's identity card or, if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, his or her valid travel document. The maximum penalty for failing to do so is a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year. To deter unlawful employment, the High Court laid down sentencing guidelines in 2004 reaffirming that it is a serious offence to employ someone who is not legally employable, and stating that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.