Chief Executive Engages Public at Yuen Long Forum for 2025 Policy Address Consultation

2025-08-03 12:33 Last Updated At：16:36

CE listens to views at 2025 Policy Address District Forum

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (August 3) led his team of Principal Officials to attend the second 2025 Policy Address District Forum at Yuen Long Public Secondary School to continue listening to the views and suggestions of members of local communities on the upcoming Policy Address. About 120 people from different backgrounds participated in the District Forum.

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CE listens to views at 2025 Policy Address District Forum (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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CE listens to views at 2025 Policy Address District Forum (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The two-hour District Forum consisted of two sessions. In the first session, the Chief Executive and the Principal Officials listened to the views of members of the public. The matters raised covered many areas, including land and housing, transport, innovation and technology, financial services development, culture and sports, education, youth issues, poverty alleviation and support for the disadvantaged, healthcare services, social welfare and more. In the second session, participants were divided into four groups centred on the themes of "pursuing development and economic growth" and "improving people's livelihood and building our future together" to engage in more extensive exchanges with the Chief Executive and the Principal Officials. The Chief Executive interacted and discussed with members of each group in turn and listened to their views.

Mr Lee said, "The District Forums form an important part of the consultation for the annual Policy Address. I have incorporated the views received from these forums into the Policy Addresses over the past three years. I attended the District Forums on two consecutive Sundays to exchange and interact directly with the public, learning about their views on the Policy Address and understanding their expectations for Hong Kong's development. The participants' remarks have shown me their passion and confidence in Hong Kong, and have also inspired me as I prepare the Policy Address. We will carefully consider every suggestion put forward by the public and formulate policies to boost the economy and improve people's livelihoods."

The public consultation for the Policy Address was launched on June 16. The Government has held more than 40 consultation sessions to date, which included two District Forums, to tap the views and suggestions of representatives from various sectors on the Policy Address. Members of the public can continue to give their views through various channels, including the Policy Address website, social media platforms, hotlines, email, fax and post.

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.

Chief Executive Engages Public at Yuen Long Forum for 2025 Policy Address Consultation