The SUN HK : 12 persons arrested in latest raids against illegal work

06 May 2023

Immigration officers display the items seized during the raids

The Immigration Department has netted another 12 suspects in its latest anti-illegal work conducted across the territory from May 2 to 4.

A statement released on the government website said a total of 10 suspected illegal workers and two suspected employers were arrested.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE!

Among those detained for doing illegal work was a 25-year-old visitor from the Mainland who was said to have been found selling products in Sheung Shui, in violation of his visa conditions.

In the other operations, immigration task force officers raided 22 target locations as part of its operations codenamed Twilight and Greenlane. These included restaurants, retail shops, a dance studio and a vegetable stall.

Pindutin para sa detalye

Nine suspected illegal workers comprising six men and three women aged 26 to 57 were arrested. Among them, two men were also suspected of using forged Hong Kong identity cards.

Two other people, a man aged 33 and a woman aged 44 were also arrested on suspicion of employing the illegal workers.

Magkano? Pindutin ito!

Immigration again warned the public that illegal work is strictly prohibited in Hong Kong, for which the penalty is quite severe.

Visitors who take up work, whether paid or unpaid, face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years imprisonment. Aiders and abettors, aside from employers, are likewise liable to prosecution.

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The penalty gets more severe if the violator is an illegal immigrant, subject of a removal order or deportation (such as asylum seekers). The maximum term of imprisonment is three years, aside from $500,000 fine.

Those who use or possess forged HKID cards face even harsher penalties, with the maximum fine going up to $100,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years.