Hong Kong Transport Chief Begins Beijing Visit to Strengthen Aviation and Logistics Cooperation

2025-08-18 18:45 Last Updated At：19:13

STL commences visit to Beijing

The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, commenced her two-day visit to Beijing today (August 18) and called on the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

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STL commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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STL commences visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi, and Deputy Secretaries for Transport and Logistics Ms Joan Hung and Miss Amy Chan, along with the Acting Director-General of Civil Aviation, Miss Clara Wong, also joined the visit. Upon their arrival in Beijing in the afternoon, they met with the Minister of Transport, Mr Liu Wei, to discuss various topics on sea, land and air transportation and logistics. Ms Chan and her delegation also had a meeting with Deputy Administrator of the CAAC Ms Liang Nan to give an update on Hong Kong's latest developments in aviation. The Chief Executive Officer of the Airport Authority Hong Kong, Mrs Vivian Cheung, also joined the meeting.

Ms Chan said, "Shipping and aviation are both Hong Kong's 'golden reputation'. I am grateful for the co-ordination of relevant ministries, which has enabled Hong Kong to better leverage its advantage of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world. In terms of shipping and logistics, we are close to the vast hinterland of our country and are also easily accessible to international markets. We will continue to adopt an intermodal transport approach to consolidate and boost our cargo volumes, thereby better utilising and further solidifying Hong Kong's position as an international shipping centre. As for aviation, we engage in differential development with Mainland hub airports to achieve complementary advantages. Hong Kong is also honoured to be the first city outside the Mainland to be served by our country's home-developed aircraft C919. We look forward to further facilitating the expansion of C919 from Hong Kong to overseas markets and will continue to proactively offer support in areas such as aircraft maintenance, talent training, aircraft leasing and sales to promote the entry of home-developed aircraft into the international market."

Ms Chan and her delegation also toured a local smart transport systems enterprise to learn how technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics can bring efficiency to traffic management. The company was also among the fourth batch of strategic enterprises attracted to Hong Kong this year.

Ms Chan and her delegation will continue their visit to Beijing tomorrow (August 19).

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.

Hong Kong Transport Chief Begins Beijing Visit to Strengthen Aviation and Logistics Cooperation

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