18 more nomination forms for Election Committee Subsector By-elections received today
The Returning Officers for various subsectors of the 2025 Election Committee (EC) Subsector By-elections received a total of 17 nomination forms for candidates and one nomination form from designated bodies today (July 24). This has brought to 63 the total number of nomination forms for candidates and six the total number of nomination forms from designated bodies received since nominations for the By-elections opened on July 22. The nomination period will end on August 4.
If there is a contested election for an EC subsector, a poll will be held on September 7.
The By-elections will fill a total of 93 vacancies in the membership of the EC to be returned by election involving 28 subsectors. The breakdown of nomination forms received for the relevant subsectors is set out below:
First Sector |
Subsector |
No. of nomination forms for candidates received today |
Cumulative total |
Catering |
Commercial (first) |
Commercial (second) |
1 |
1 |
Commercial (third) |
2 |
Employers' Federation of Hong Kong |
1 |
1 |
Hotel |
1 |
Import and export |
2 |
Industrial (first) |
Industrial (second) |
1 |
Real estate and construction |
1 |
1 |
Small and medium enterprises |
1 |
1 |
Tourism |
1 |
Transport |
Second Sector |
Subsector |
No. of nomination forms for candidates received today |
Cumulative total |
Architectural, surveying, planning and landscape |
Chinese medicine |
1 |
Education |
Legal |
Medical and health services |
Sports, performing arts, culture and publication |
1 |
Technology and innovation |
Third Sector |
Subsector |
No. of nomination forms for candidates received today |
Cumulative total |
Agriculture and fisheries |
Associations of Chinese fellow townsmen |
2 |
6 |
Grassroots associations |
3 |
4 |
Labour |
3 |
Fourth Sector |
Subsector |
No. of nomination forms for candidates received today |
Cumulative total |
Heung Yee Kuk |
Representatives of members of Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees, and District Fire Safety Committees of Hong Kong and Kowloon |
2 |
5 |
Representatives of members of Area Committees, District Fight Crime Committees, and District Fire Safety Committees of the New Territories |
5 |
7 |
Fifth Sector |
Subsector |
No. of nomination forms for candidates received today |
Cumulative total |
Representatives of Hong Kong members of relevant national organisations |
1 |
25 |
Total: |
17 |
63 |
Besides, 10 vacancies involving five subsectors to be returned by nomination will be filled through supplementary nominations by designated bodies. The breakdown of nomination forms received for the relevant subsectors is set out below:
Accountancy |
Designated body |
No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today |
Cumulative total |
Association of Hong Kong Accounting Advisors Limited |
1 (3 nominees in total) |
1 (3 nominees in total) |
Sports, performing arts, culture and publication |
Designated body |
No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today |
Cumulative total |
Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China |
1 (1 nominee in total) |
Hong Kong Publishing Federation Limited |
1 (1 nominee in total) |
Technology and innovation |
Designated body |
No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today |
Cumulative total |
The Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians |
Religious |
Designated body |
No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today |
Cumulative total |
Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong |
Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association |
1 (1 nominee in total) |
The Hong Kong Taoist Association |
1 (2 nominees in total) |
Representatives of associations of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland |
Designated body |
No. of nomination forms received from designated bodies today |
Cumulative total |
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China—Guangdong |
1 (1 nominee in total) |
Total: |
1 (3 nominees in total) |
6 (9 nominees in total) |
Particulars of the nominated persons received today will be uploaded to the election website (www.elections.gov.hk).
Source: AI-found images
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.
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, the 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.
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
