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| The overstayers and illegal immigrants from the mainland are led away by Immigration agents |
Immigration officers uncovered what appeared to be a safehouse for a number of illegal workers from mainland China during an afternoon raid on a residential flat in Yau Ma Tei.
According to a statement released by the Immigration
Department on Wednesday, 11 overstayers and four illegal immigrants were
arrested during the anti-illegal work operation.
Seventeen forged Hong Kong identity cards were also
unearthed inside the flat, and during a preliminary investigation, it was found
out that the ID cards were used by some of the people arrested in taking up illegal
work.
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
Immigration said an investigation on those managing the
premises was ongoing, and that more arrests may be made.
The arrested overstayers comprised three men and
eight women, aged 30 to 57, while the illegal immigrants comprised one man and
three women, aged 28 to 61.
Among them, nine people – two men and seven women –
were suspected of using the forged ID cards to obtain jobs.
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| TAWAG NA! |
According to other media reports, the arrested
illegal workers were paid up to twice the city’s legal minimum wage of $40 an
hour for taking up odd jobs such as cleaners and dishwashers.
They were kept in the 500-square-foot subdivided
flat on Reclamation Street which had four rooms, each with one of two bunk
beds.
Immigration again warned that those who undertake
illegal work face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment.
Aiders and abettors could be prosecuted and meted the same penalty.
Overstayers and illegal immigrants who take up work,
whether paid or unpaid, or join in any business may be imprisoned for up to
three years and fined up to $50,000.
Possessing a forged HK ID card or one belonging to
another person can be jailed for up to 10 years and face a maximum fine of $100,000.
Employers of illegal workers are penalized more
severely, with the fine going up to $500,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
All those engaged in illegal work are often meted an
immediate custodial sentence.
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