Customs Commissioner meets Minister of General Administration of Customs
A high-level meeting between Hong Kong Customs and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) was held in Hong Kong yesterday (May 18). The Hong Kong Customs delegation was headed by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, while the Mainland Customs delegation was headed by the Minister of the GACC, Ms Sun Meijun.
Mr Chan welcomed Ms Sun's visit to Hong Kong Customs with her delegation and chaired the meeting. During the meeting, Mainland Customs and Hong Kong Customs exchanged views on further deepening co-operation between the two customs administrations.
After the meeting, witnessed by Ms Sun and the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, Mr Chan and the Director General in Shenzhen Customs District, Mr Zheng Jugang, signed the memorandum regarding the point-to-point express co-operation and liaison between Shenzhen and Hong Kong Land Boundary Control Points. The signing of the memorandum further strengthens the information sharing and co-ordination mechanism at land boundary control points between the customs authorities on both sides, and enhances the efficiency of cross-boundary flow of people and cargo between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
The GACC delegation yesterday also visited the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to learn about Hong Kong Customs' passenger clearance operations.
The GACC delegation this morning (May 19) also attended the 26th World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia/Pacific (A/P) Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference held by Hong Kong Customs, in the capacity of the WCO Vice-Chair for the A/P Region.
Customs Commissioner meets Minister of General Administration of Customs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Customs Commissioner meets Minister of General Administration of Customs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
10 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Contribute", joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" and "Windsand", and a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast" from December 24, 2025, to yesterday (January 1). A total of 10 suspected illegal workers were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including renovation flats, exhibition venues and retail stores etc. Ten suspected illegal workers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised six men and four women, aged 23 to 64. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed 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."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to 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. 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.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
10 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
