John Lee Engages Public on Policy Address During Eastern District Visit

2025-08-30 14:05 Last Updated At：14:53

CE visits Eastern District to gather public views on Policy Address

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Eastern District today (August 30) to gauge the views of members of the public on the upcoming Policy Address. He toured a public housing estate, social service facilities, and the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence.

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CE visits Eastern District to gather public views on Policy Address Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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CE visits Eastern District to gather public views on Policy Address Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; and the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, also joined relevant parts of the visit.

Mr Lee and the officials, accompanied by the District Officer (Eastern), Mr Henry Lai, first visited Oi Tung Estate, where they visited elderly living alone and presented them with blessing bags. They also learned about the daily lives of the residents and the support provided by the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams). Mr Lee also interacted with residents of the estate and listened to their views. He noted that the District Services and Community Care Teams - Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers has been extended to cover the entire territory of Hong Kong, with Care Teams assisting in identifying singleton and doubleton elderly persons and carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities in need, and providing them with care and support services.

Mr Lee and the officials then visited the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fong Shu Chuen Social Service Building to interact with elderly users of the services and learn about how they use gerontechnology and silver products to enhance their quality of life.

Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been taking multi-pronged measures to strengthen elderly care services. They include increasing the numbers of Residential Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly, and Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly, starting from April this year, and continuing to expand and enhance the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong, and providing social and care support services to participating elderly to help them adapt to living in Guangdong.

On the other hand, the HKSAR Government has been actively encouraging elderly service units and the elderly to harness gerontechnology. This includes support through the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care, which subsidises elderly and rehabilitation service units in using technological products to improve the lives of service users and reduce the pressure on nursing staff and carers.

Mr Lee and the officials then visited the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence. They toured the "Standing Together for Peacebuilding: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance in Guangdong and Hong Kong" exhibition jointly organised by the museum and Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History, and interacted with young people there. Noting that this year marks the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government's Working Group on Patriotic Education is co-ordinating the organisation of commemorative activities by various policy bureaux and departments at full steam, actively passing on the spirit of the War of Resistance, fostering a correct understanding of history among the younger generation, strengthening their patriotism, and nurturing them become pillars of society who can contribute to the development of Hong Kong and the country.

The public consultation exercise for the 2025 Policy Address was launched in mid-June. Mr Lee said that he and his team will continue to listen to opinions from various sectors of society, leading society in driving innovation and reform to boost the economy and improve people's livelihood. He appealed to members of the public to continue to actively give their views to the Government.

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.

John Lee Engages Public on Policy Address During Eastern District Visit