20 June 2016
Three illegal workers comprising two Nepalese and one Indonesian holding recognisance forms were jailed at Shatin Magistrates' Court on June 17.
During an anti-illegal worker operation mounted on April 18, Immigration Department (ImmD) investigators found two female Nepalese workers aged 26 and 29 working as dishwashing workers in a restaurant in Admiralty. Upon identity checking, they produced for inspection recognisance forms issued by ImmD, which prohibit them from taking employment.
Later, during a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" conducted on June 14, enforcement officers carried out raids in Mong Kok. One female Indonesian worker aged 34 was found as a dishwashing worker in a restaurant. Upon identity checking, she produced for inspection a recognisance form issued by ImmD, which prohibits her from taking employment.
The three arrestees were each charged with taking up employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully and remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration or while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. After the trial, they were sentenced to imprisonment for 15 months to 22 months plus two weeks.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction 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.