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| ImmD photo shows suspected illegal workers arrested during an operation |
Another 19 persons were arrested during anti-illegal worker operations mounted by the Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police on October 7 to 9.
Those arrested in the operations consisted of 15
suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and two overstayers.
Immigration Task Force officers raided 12 target locations including premises under renovation and residential buildings, arresting six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer.
One
woman was the holder of recognizance form, which prohibits her from taking any
employment. One man, aged 42, was suspected of employing the illegal workers
and was also arrested.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The joint operations with Police raided 40 target locations in the New Territories North region, resulting in the arrest of nine suspected illegal workers, one suspected employer and two overstayers who held recognizance forms.
Two women, aged 34 and 56, were in
possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards.
One man, aged 41, was
arrested for employing illegal workers.
In a press statement, Immigration said
it is illegal for visitors and those with a condition of stay that to take
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. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties,”
it added.
Immigration also said “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,”
it said.
“Under the prevailing laws,
it is an offense to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card. Offenders
are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and
up to 10 years' imprisonment," Immigration said.
The penalties are higher for those who employ
people who are not lawfully employable.
“Under the Immigration
Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not
lawfully employable, i.e. 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, has been significantly increased from a fine of
$350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years'
imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences,” ImmD said.
“The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence,” it added.
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