Publications and Press Releases

22 March 2022

A male illegal immigrant from the Mainland was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment on March 18 at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts.

The 46-year-old defendant approached the Births and Deaths General Register Office of the Immigration Department (ImmD) for birth registration of his Hong Kong-born daughter on December 28, 2021, but failed to produce any valid proof of identity. He was therefore referred for investigation.

During investigation, the defendant under caution admitted that he entered Hong Kong illegally in September last year. He further admitted that during the period of illegally remaining in Hong Kong, he had been working at a fish market. He was subsequently charged with the offences of (i) remaining in Hong Kong without the authority of the Director of Immigration and (ii) taking employment after landing in Hong Kong unlawfully. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts on March 18 and was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for each charge and the sentences are to run concurrently.

The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, 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. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.