Immigration Department Arrests 165 in Major Crackdown on Illegal Employment in Hong Kong

165 arrested in ImmD anti-illegal worker focused operations

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of anti-illegal worker focused operations by conducting surprise inspections and enforcement actions, targeting four industries, including renovation, catering, logistics and cleansing, which are prone to involvement with illegal employment from July 2 to yesterday (August 14). A total of 165 persons were arrested, including 109 suspected illegal workers, 54 suspected employers and two suspected aiders and abettors.Among them, 61 persons have been prosecuted for offences under the Immigration Ordinance, with 49 persons sentenced to prison terms ranging from 54 days to 18 months.

The ImmD has long been highly vigilant against the problem of illegal employment and has taken vigorous and effective enforcement actions. The ImmD has mounted intelligence-led focused operations in multiple targeted locations. From July 2 to August 14, ImmD investigators, employing strategies including decoy operations, conducted raids at 721targeted locations across various districts in Hong Kong, including private housing estates, newly built/inhabited housing estates, shop units under renovation, restaurants and popular gathering spots for food delivery riders.

The arrested illegal workers include dishwashers, kitchen workers, waiters, waitresses, food delivery riders, renovation workers, cleaners and logistics workers. They aged between 19 and 56, comprised 35 non-ethnic Chinese persons (including 11 recognisance forms holders prohibited from taking any employment) and 74 Mainlanders. Among the illegal workers arrested, 7 persons were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Additionally, 55 Hong Kong residents and 1 Mainlander were arrested for suspected involvement in employing illegal workers or aiding and abetting others in breaching their conditions of stay in Hong Kong. Serious investigation will be conducted on the employers and contractors, and the ImmD does not rule out the possibility of further arrests or prosecutions.

Among the arrested illegal workers, 61 persons have been prosecuted for offences under the Immigration Ordinance, including breach of conditions of stay, using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card, and taking employment while being 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. Among them, 49 persons have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 54 days to 18 months.

The spokesman said that the ImmD will continue to combat illegal employment activities. The ImmD is committed to combating illegal employment by illegal immigrants, visitors, foreign domestic helpers, and imported workers bound by specific employment conditions in order to protect the local labour market. If illegal activities are suspected, citizens may contact the ImmD's dedicated hotline (2824 1551), email (anti_crime@immd.gov.hk) and online reporting platform (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/online-services/) to report illegal employment activities.

165 arrested in ImmD anti-illegal worker focused operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

165 arrested in ImmD anti-illegal worker focused operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

165 arrested in ImmD anti-illegal worker focused operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Companies Registry releases statistics for 2025

According to the statistics released by the Companies Registry today (January 16), a total of 195,343 local companies and re-domiciled companies were newly registered in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of local companies and re-domiciled companies registered under the Companies Ordinance increased by 96,609 compared to 2024, reaching 1,557,103, which was an all-time high figure.

In 2025, 1,532 non-Hong Kong companies that had newly established a place of business in Hong Kong were registered under the Companies Ordinance. By the end of 2025, the total number of registered non-Hong Kong companies was 15,586, up 3 per cent compared to 2024.

The company re-domiciliation regime, implemented since May 23, 2025, has received a positive market response. By the end of 2025, the Registry had received over 420 enquiries and 30 applications. Among these, six non-Hong Kong corporations incorporated in Luxembourg, the Cayman Islands or Bermuda, including an insurance company, have been successfully re-domiciled to Hong Kong. The regime provides a simple and cost-effective pathway for non-Hong Kong incorporated companies to re-domicile to Hong Kong by eliminating the need for complicated and costly judicial procedures while preserving a company's legal identity. It ensures seamless business continuity and strengthens the competitiveness of Hong Kong as a global business and financial hub.

In 2025, the number of charges on properties of companies received for registration was 12,912, which was 6.4 per cent up from 12,137 in 2024. The number of notifications of payments and releases received for registration increased by 14.2 per cent, from 18,201 in 2024 to 20,789 in 2025.

In 2025, a total of 180 prospectuses were registered while the figure recorded in 2024 was 157.

In 2025, the total number of documents delivered for registration increased by 7 per cent to 3,360,723, compared to 3,139,906 in 2024.

In 2025, a total of 5,229,202 searches of document image records were conducted using the Registry's electronic search services, an increase of 0.7 per cent from 5,194,865 in 2024.

On the registration of limited partnership funds (LPFs), a total of 389 LPFs were newly registered in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of LPFs increased by 35.1 per cent compared to the end of 2024, to 1,347.

For open-ended fund companies (OFCs), 210 OFCs were newly incorporated in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of OFCs increased by 43.2 per cent compared to the end of 2024, to 676.

As regards the licensing of trust or company service providers under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, a total of 760 new licences were granted by the Registry in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of licensees was 7,220.

Turning to the licensing of money lenders, 155 new licences were granted by the Licensing Court in 2025. By the end of 2025, the total number of licensed money lenders was 2,015.

For details of the statistics, please visit the "Statistics" section of the Registry's website (www.cr.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images