Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Wraps Up Beijing Visit Focused on Water Infrastructure and Urban Renewal.

2025-07-25 20:44 Last Updated At：21:53

SDEV concludes visit to Beijing

The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, concluded her visit to Beijing today (July 25).

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SDEV concludes visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

SDEV concludes visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

In the morning, Ms Linn led the study tour on national water infrastructure, culture and technology to attend a seminar. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Department of Water Resources of Guangdong Province for making meticulous arrangements for the tour. She also thanked Hong Kong's engineering and education sectors for their joint efforts, which allowed the younger generation and the engineering community to gain first-hand understanding of the country's tremendous achievements in water infrastructure, deepen their appreciation of the country's rich history and culture, and learn about the rapid technological advancement and modernisation of the country. She firmly believed that the tour had strengthened the patriotic sentiments of Hong Kong's younger generation and enhanced the sense of mission among engineering professionals as builders of the country. She hoped that Hong Kong citizens, especially the younger generation, would be grateful for the care rendered by the country and remember the inseparable blood ties between the motherland and Hong Kong.

In the afternoon, Ms Linn visited urban renewal projects in Beijing to learn about the integration of the old and the new through the redevelopment of the local district of Zhonghai Daji Alley in Xicheng District; the enhancement of facilities in old district and revitalisation of old buildings in Yaojiang Hutong; and the enhancement of the environment of the old district by improving the facades and spatial layout of old buildings in Xidan Beidajie. She also visited an in-situ redevelopment and relocation project at No. 8, Huabichang Hutong, to learn about the adoption of the concrete Modular Integrated Construction method, which significantly reduced the construction period of the project to three months. It was implemented by the property owners with subsidies and personal investment. Ms Linn said that to effectively address the challenges of ageing buildings in Hong Kong, the Government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach to support and encourage public and private organisations to take forward urban renewal with an innovative and forward-looking mindset, using a dual-track approach of building rehabilitation and redevelopment to improve the living environment of residents.

Ms Linn concluded her visit and returned to Hong Kong this evening.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

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.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Wraps Up Beijing Visit Focused on Water Infrastructure and Urban Renewal.

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