Hong Kong Customs Hosts Youth Tour to Explore Innovation and History in Hangzhou and Shanghai

2025-08-09 16:18 Last Updated At：16:28

Hong Kong Customs organises Customs YES summer tour to Hangzhou and Shanghai

Hong Kong Customs organised a summer innovation and historical exploration tour for Customs YES from August 4 to 9, during which 50 members visited innovation and technology (I&T) companies and historical and cultural landmarks in Hangzhou and Shanghai to learn about the country's accomplishments in I&T, and study the indomitable spirit and the historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation.

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Hong Kong Customs organises Customs YES summer tour to Hangzhou and Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Hong Kong Customs organises Customs YES summer tour to Hangzhou and Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-Tat, and representatives of the Executive Committee and the Honorary Presidents' Association of Customs YES led the delegation to the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse Memorial Hall to learn the history of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japan and the heroic deeds of the "Eight Hundred Heroes". The delegation also visited the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Jiaxing to better understand the history of the Communist Party of China's founding and the "Red Boat Spirit".

In addition, the delegation visited three of Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons" enterprises, including Hangzhou Yushu Technology Co Ltd, Hangzhou Youke Interactive Technology Co Ltd, and BrainCo. Members were able to expand their horizons through studying the development trends and unique features of the I&T companies in fields such as robotics, AI, game development, and brain computer interface technologies. The delegation also visited Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co Ltd, Alibaba's global headquarters in Hangzhou and the Huawei Lianqiu Lake R&D Center to learn about the business applications and developments in areas including AI of Things, cloud computing, e-commerce and communication technology. They also toured the innovation centre of the home-developed aircarft C919 at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd.

During the tour, the delegation explored various prominent cultural and arts landmarks in Hangzhou and Shanghai, including the Liangzhu Museum, the Hangzhou Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion, The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum and the China Cartoon and Animation Museum, to appreciate the richness and heritage of Chinese culture.

The tour is one of the annual activities of the Tour to the Motherland for a Hundred Youth organised by Hong Kong Customs during the summer holiday. Customs YES will continue to organise more thematic exchange activities to help young people gain a more holistic and deeper understanding of the country, strengthening their sense of national identity and national pride.

During the trip, Mr Chan also met with the Director General in Shanghai Customs District, Mr Wang Wei, to have in-depth discussions and exchanges on matters including customs clearance, application of the Trade Single Window and risk management co-operation.

Anti-Illegal Worker Operations in Hong Kong Result in Eight Arrests and Ongoing Investigations

Nine persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight" and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" from January 9 to yesterday (January 15). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including wet markets, hair salons and retail stores etc. Eight suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised two men and six women, aged 32 to 57. Among them, one man and one woman were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment. A man aged 32 was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employer 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 warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, 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 any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years."

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.

Hong Kong Customs Hosts Youth Tour to Explore Innovation and History in Hangzhou and Shanghai

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